Method and apparatus for additively manufacturing multiple articles by adjusting the build path of a build head

Abstract

The present invention provides a method that can improve the build strategy for solid fabrication and accelerate the additive manufacturing of multiple articles on a build platform. The proposed solution relates to a method for additive manufacturing of a plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) by utilizing at least one build head of a three-dimensional modeling device, in which the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) are successively built-up along an axis (X-axis) on a build platform (P). In the layer plane of each of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) successive to one another along the axis (X), an outer shell (K) is first produced via at least one build head, which forms a boundary with the fill area (F) of each of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5). Subsequently, at least one build head is adjusted along an axis (X-axis) to continuously introduce build material into the filling area (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) along a first build path, and then the build head is again adjusted along an axis (X-axis) to continuously introduce build material into the filling area (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) along a second build path offset from the first build path.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The proposed solution relates in particular to a method for manufacturing a plurality of articles and to a method using at least one printing head of a solid-state imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] Through additive manufacturing of articles using a stereolithography device, the articles are built up layer by layer. For example, metal, ceramic, and / or plastic granules are melted and conveyed to the extruder's build head via at least one extruder, particularly via at least one extruder screw, in order to build up an article from them. In fact, up until now, the entire article to be manufactured has typically been produced by stereolithography by applying build material over the entire surface in each build layer. To this end, while the build material is being successively deposited, the corresponding surface is completely scanned by the build head in the article's layers.

[0003] For example, when manufacturing multiple articles on a build platform, it is common for the build head to fully finish building a layer of one of the articles before starting to build another layer of the article. The build head must adjust along multiple build passes as it lays down a layer of the article, and then accelerate and decelerate as it adjusts to other areas of the build platform where build material is deposited along multiple build passes. Therefore, additive manufacturing processes must perform a relatively large number of braking and accelerating operations when manufacturing multiple articles on a build platform. There is also a constant need to accelerate the additive manufacturing process. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Thus, there is a need for improved build strategies for solid state fabrication, as well as methods that can accelerate the additive manufacturing of multiple articles on a build platform. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This is answered by the proposed solution as set out in independent claims 1 and 11.

[0006] In a proposed method for additive manufacturing of multiple (at least two) articles by utilizing at least one build head of a solid-state imaging device, the following is proposed: - in the layer plane of each successive article that is built up along the (build) axis, an outer contour is first produced via said at least one build head, which borders the fill area of ​​each said article; - The at least one build head is then adjusted along the axis to continuously introduce build material into the fill area of ​​the plurality of articles along a first build path, and then the build head is again adjusted along the axis to continuously introduce build material into the fill area of ​​the plurality of articles along a second build path that is offset from the first build path.

[0007] The proposed solution therefore proceeds from the basic idea that, when multiple articles are produced on a build platform along a (build) axis, the desired outer contour is first formed in a layer plane for each article, and then the entire article is filled by building pass by pass, i.e., vector by vector or line by line. Thus, for each layer of an article, the outer contour is first formed, and then the fill region of the article, which forms a (possibly complete) boundary with the outer contour, is continuously provided with build material by the at least one build head adjusted along a build pass. Thus, layers in the fill region of an article are produced with build material that is positioned between adjustments of the build head along multiple build passes. During adjustments along the build passes, the build head traverses multiple regions of the build platform where articles are produced. A layer of an article is not completely formed in the layer plane of each fill region via the build head, as has often been the case in practice up to now, before a layer of the article is completely formed in the fill region for a further article in the corresponding layer plane.

[0008] During additive manufacturing according to the proposed solution, from the point of view of the software generating (control) instructions for the 3D printing machine that produces or produces articles adjacent to each other along the build path, the build material is rather deposited consecutively along the build path for all articles that are adjacent to each other, and therefore all articles are deposited with build material. In this way, for example, a layer of one article of a plurality of articles can be produced by at least one extruder equipped with the build head as follows: in a first work step, outer shells for the articles to be produced are first produced in each article layer, each outer shell extending in the layer plane and consisting of at least one outer wall extending in an extension direction perpendicular to the layer plane so as to at least partially border said filling area, in which at least one chamber opening in the extension direction is formed, - In a subsequent second working step, a building material is introduced into the filling area of ​​the article (in particular of all articles along the axis) along the first building path, and in a further subsequent third working step, a building material is introduced into the filling area of ​​the article along the second building path. Here, it is of course possible that in a given configuration of the filling area, the build head must be guided over the filling area more than once, i.e., along more than one build path, in order to apply sufficient build material in a layer of the article.

[0009] The proposed solution offers the advantage, in particular, that the build material for multiple articles is placed during the adjustment along the build path before the change in the build path is made. This allows the number of braking and accelerating operations to be significantly reduced compared to practically commonly used 3D printing machines. As a result, the production time is significantly reduced. In other words, a defined number of articles can be produced simultaneously in a shorter time during the production process on the build platform.

[0010] In one embodiment, the at least one build head is adjusted in a first adjustment direction along the (adjustment) axis during adjustment along the first build path, while the build head is adjusted in a second adjustment direction opposite to the first adjustment direction along the build axis during adjustment along the second build path.

[0011] In principle, at the end of an adjustment operation along one of the build paths, the build head may be rotated and / or moved laterally during a subsequent adjustment operation so that the build head is adjusted along a subsequent build path that is offset parallel to the previous build path. At the end of an adjustment operation across multiple articles, the build head is consequently driven along the build path to perform a rotational and / or lateral movement, via which the build head is displaced, and then adjusted along another build path that is offset parallel to and extends from the previous build path and that covers an area on the build platform for the articles to be manufactured.

[0012] In principle, the build head may first need to be decelerated to perform the rotation and / or lateral movement, thereby further reducing the build time. Furthermore, build material can be introduced into the fill area of ​​the articles in the layer plane by moving the build head back and forth along parallel build passes offset from one another across the entire outer periphery of each article being manufactured next to the other along the axis. However, it is also possible for the adjustment axis along which the build head switches from a given build pass to a subsequent build pass in the manufacturing process to alternate with the build axis between two article layers. For example, an article layer based on a Cartesian coordinate system is built along the X-axis in multiple build passes offset along the Y-axis. Then, at least one subsequent article layer is built along the Y-axis, where the build passes are offset along the X-axis.

[0013] Further reductions in build time can be achieved in one embodiment by selecting the pivot radius of the build head so that the vector velocity of the build head remains unchanged for changes in build direction. The velocity components of the adjustment velocity can then be decreased in the spatial direction in which the build head is adjusted along the build path, while the perpendicular velocity component is increased. This includes, for example, variants in which, based on a Cartesian coordinate system, the adjustment velocity of the build head is decreased along the X-axis and increased along the Y-axis, so that the build head rotates in the XY plane at an adjustment velocity that substantially or exactly corresponds to the adjustment velocity along the X-axis at which the build head was previously adjusted along the build path. In this particular context, the pivot radius is selected so large that the build head skips at least one build path by pivoting, and then the build head can be adjusted along that build path only after at least one re-pivot at the other end.

[0014] Furthermore, it is quite obvious that the basic idea of ​​the proposed solution can be realized when, instead of or in addition to power-actuated adjustment of the build head relative to the build platform (i.e., for example, relative to the build bed), power-actuated adjustment of the build platform relative to the build head is performed, in particular for placing filler material by the build head along the build axis and / or for switching from one build pass to the next.

[0015] In principle, the articles may be arranged side by side or behind one another along the axis, and after the build material has been introduced into the filling area of ​​the articles in a row along the first build pass, further build material may be introduced into the same filling area of ​​the articles in the same row along the second build pass. Thus, adjustments along the build pass are made to introduce build material into several different filling areas. This includes, in particular, the fact that build material is repeatedly introduced via traverses along several build passes because, as already explained above, in the filling area of ​​one or more articles, the layer of articles in the respective filling area is not completely formed after one traverse and / or because, as mentioned above, one or more build passes were initially skipped due to the correspondingly large selection of the pivot radius of the build head.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, the articles are separated from one another by a gap along the axis. During the adjustment of the print head along the print path in which the build material is introduced into the fill region of the articles, in one embodiment, the deposition of the build material from the print head is (temporarily) stopped when crossing the gap. Here, the width of the gap between two adjacent articles can be the same or different. In a corresponding embodiment, it is simply clear that the deposition of the build material from at least one print head, controlled via, for example, an electronic control unit of the 3D printing device, is temporarily stopped when the print head is positioned at each gap existing between two adjacent articles or on a cross section of their outer contours, so that the build material is not introduced into the gap. The electronically controlled stopping of the deposition of the build material can be adjusted to the deposition of the build material and the 3D printing device so that the adjustment speed of the print head along the print path does not need to be changed, in particular so that the print head does not need to slow down when crossing the gap.

[0017] Thus, in one deployment, the build head can be adjusted at a constant adjustment speed along the build path across the multiple articles (or an area on the build platform). Then, build material placement is stopped for a short time only at the gaps between the articles being manufactured. Here, the size of the gap between the articles can be predetermined small and adjusted to the adjustment speed of the build head so that the gap width is large enough to ensure that build material does not fall from the build head into the gap when the placement of build material is stopped. For example, the build head is part of an extruder of the three-dimensional modeling device, which includes a rotatable extruder screw through which the build material is delivered to the build head. The width of the gap between two articles can be set so that the placement of build material can be stopped by stopping or returning the extruder screw when crossing the gap. As a result, the gap width is set here such that the extruder screw can stop rotating when traversing the gap without the extruder end, in particular the nozzle head, having to be mechanically closed via a closing element. However, temporary closure by a closing element is also easily conceivable. For example, an actuator for the closing element is then appropriately driven by the electronic control to open or close the gap area.

[0018] In this case, the adjustment speed of the build head refers to the speed at which the build head is adjusted along the build bed. In a 3D printing machine with at least one extruder screw, this also corresponds to the so-called build speed. This is to be distinguished from the build rate, i.e., the number of articles produced per unit of time, e.g., per minute.

[0019] In principle, multiple rows of articles or article cross-sections can be manufactured on the build platform. Each row consequently includes multiple articles or article cross-sections, which are arranged consecutively along a given axis. The articles or article cross-sections can then be manufactured row by row with their contours, which can be provided by adjusting parallel build paths within each contour before the build head approaches additional rows of articles or article cross-sections. In particular, the rows can be arranged parallel to one another, and the build head simply moves over the build platform along parallel build paths to build layers of articles vector by vector or line by line (after the corresponding contours have been formed). By depositing build material in successive layers, article cross-sections from different rows can be connected to one another in a further manufacturing process.

[0020] In principle, each filling area can be at least partially filled with the build material via the build material introduced into the respective filling area. This means, in particular, that a filling area bounded by an outer shell can be completely filled with the build material in a layer of the article. However, instead or in addition, at least one internal wall, in particular a lattice structure, can also be formed in the filling area. At least one (additional) volume chamber can be formed in the filling area via at least one internal wall, in particular a lattice structure, in the filling area. Here, the corresponding volume chamber can remain as an air-filled cavity in the manufactured article. Alternatively, one or more volumes formed in the filling area of ​​the article can be filled with the build material in a subsequent working process.

[0021] In principle, the proposed manufacturing solution can be used to manufacture multiple identical articles on a given build platform, but of course the proposed solution can also be easily adapted to the manufacture of different articles built on a given build platform in a manufacturing process.

[0022] At least one component of the build material used to produce the outer shell of the article and / or to introduce into the fill region can be a plastic material, a metal, or a ceramic.

[0023] The proposed solution also relates to a 3D printing apparatus for additively manufacturing a plurality of articles on a build platform of the 3D printing apparatus, wherein the proposed 3D printing apparatus for additive building comprises at least one extruder with at least one build head for depositing build material, and at least one electronic control for controlling the extruder with at least one processor and at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory contains (control) instructions executed by the at least one processor that cause the extruder to, during additive manufacturing, - in the layer plane of each successive article to be built up along said axis, firstly an outer shell is produced via said at least one shaping head, which forms a boundary with the filling area of ​​each of said articles; - The at least one build head is then adjusted along the axis to continuously introduce build material into the fill area of ​​the plurality of articles along a first build path, and then the build head is again adjusted along the axis to continuously introduce build material into the fill area of ​​the plurality of articles along a second build path that is offset from the first build path.

[0024] Therefore, the proposed three-dimensional printing apparatus is adjusted to print each outer contour of each individual article in a first working step during the introduction of printing material into the layer plane of the multiple articles so that multiple outer contours of the multiple articles are present in the layer of the articles before each filling area of ​​the article is printed by adjusting the at least one printing head for each printing pass.

[0025] Accordingly, an embodiment of the proposed 3D printing apparatus is particularly suitable for carrying out an embodiment of the proposed additive manufacturing method, and therefore, the advantages and features of embodiments of the proposed manufacturing method described above and below also apply to embodiments of the proposed 3D printing apparatus, and vice versa.

[0026] The attached drawings illustrate possible embodiments of the proposed solution. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view of a build platform of an embodiment of the proposed solid state fabrication apparatus in which multiple rows of articles are additively built using an embodiment of the proposed manufacturing method. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a velocity-time diagram of adjustment movements of a build head for building the article of FIG. 1 that the build head performs along a build path. [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view of the build platform of FIG. 1, showing an array of manufactured articles having at least partially geometrically different contours. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a three-dimensional printing apparatus having the printing platform of FIGS. 1 and 3. [Figure 5] 1 shows a build platform together with a method for additive manufacturing of multiple rows of articles on the build platform as known from the prior art. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a velocity-time diagram corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing acceleration and braking operations in a method for additive manufacturing of multiple articles on a build platform, as known from the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] 4 shows, by way of example, a 3D printing apparatus 3 on which an embodiment of the proposed solution can be implemented. The 3D printing apparatus 3 comprises a build platform P for an article to be additively manufactured. On top of the build platform P, a build unit or extruder 30 with a build head 300 is provided. Inside the extruder 30, an extruder screw rotatable about a vertical axis is provided, via which molten build material can be conveyed to the build head 300. Here, the extruder screw contains the build material from a material supply device 32 of the 3D printing apparatus 3. The build material can comprise, for example, metal granules, ceramic granules and / or plastic granules.

[0029] The extruder 30 with the build head 300 is mounted on top of the build platform P so as to be adjustable by one or more motor-driven devices. Here, the extruder 30 is adjustable, for example, along two mutually orthogonal spatial axes X and Z or X and Y of a Cartesian coordinate system. In addition, the build platform P is adjustable along the spatial axis Y or Z. The build platform P is often adjustable, for example, vertically, i.e., along the Z axis, while the extruder 30 with the build head 300 is adjustable in the XY plane.

[0030] Via the 3D printing apparatus 3, multiple or individual articles can be additively built and printed on the printing platform P. FIG. 4 shows, by way of example, an article 1.1 on the printing platform P. Via an electronic control unit 33 of the 3D printing apparatus 3, which includes at least one processor and at least one memory, the drive units, e.g., electric, hydraulic, and / or pneumatic, of the adjustment assembly 31 are activated to additively build one or more articles in an intended geometric configuration on the printing platform P via the build material disposed on the printing head 300. Subsequently, control commands are generated in the memory of the electronic control unit 33 to adjust the extruder 30 equipped with the printing head 300, for example, to manufacture multiple articles on the printing platform P in a manufacturing process.

[0031] Here, corresponding to the plan view of FIG. 5, in order to provide for efficient production of multiple articles on the build platform P, the articles to be produced can be layer-built on the build platform P in multiple parallel rows R1 to R5. FIG. 5 shows, as an example, a 5×5 grid of articles. Each row R1 to R5 includes articles to be produced next to each other along the X axis. Thus, for example, the first row R1 includes five articles 1.1 to 1.5, each of which has a rectangular outline in this case, at least in the illustrated layer plane. Therefore, the number of articles to be produced in each of the rows R1 to R5 is N. X = 5. Furthermore, the rows R1 to R5 are located parallel to each other along the Y axis. In this case, the number of rows R1 to R5 is N Y = 5 are provided.

[0032] In this case, the article produced on the build platform P has a width (of the article) along the X axis of S. B and the gap width S T In a manufacturing method known from the prior art, for example, articles 1.1-1.5 in the first row R1 are completely stacked after the other articles are stacked. In other words, for example, the layer of the first article 1.1 is first completely formed via the build head 300 in the first row R1, and then the build head 300 forms the layer of the next article 1.2. For the layers of articles in the first row R1, the build head 300 must repeatedly move back and forth along the X axis until each layer of articles is completely formed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, for example, to complete the layers of articles within a defined outer contour, the build head 300 must move N B = 6 (Number) direction changes must be made, after which the print head moves to the gap width S along the X axis. T and continue building the next layer of items in the row.

[0033] As shown in the velocity-time diagram of Figure 6, the build head 300 must repeatedly accelerate and decelerate in a power-driven manner to perform the various changes of direction. After the complete fabrication of one layer of an article, the build head 300 rotates at a gap width S T To connect the two, you must accelerate and decelerate again.

[0034] In one embodiment of the proposed solution, a different method is selected for additive manufacturing of multiple articles on the build platform P by the three-dimensional printing apparatus 3. Corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 1 , in a first work step, the build material disposed in the build head 300 is first used to form each outer shell K for all articles 1.1-1.5 in the row R1 being manufactured along the X axis. Subsequently, for the layer of articles 1.1-1.5 in the currently manufactured row R1, the build head 300 continues to traverse each of the articles 1.1-1.5 along parallel build paths across the entire area of ​​the build platform P along the X axis, through the filling regions F that form the boundaries of each outer shell. Thus, for example, in a second work step, to introduce the build material into each filling region F for articles 1.1-1.5, the build head 300 first moves in the +X direction along a first build path parallel to the X axis (or a build axis extending in the ±X direction). At the end of the first build pass, i.e. in this case in the end region of the build platform P, in the following third working step the build head 300 performs an arcuate rotation and / or a superimposed lateral movement along the Y axis so as to be adjusted in the opposite direction, -X, along a second build pass offset parallel to the first build pass, and this time in reverse order, over the entire area of ​​the build platform P on which the articles 1.1 to 1.5 of row R1 are formed. In principle, an offset along the Z axis between two successive build passes is not considered.

[0035] The gap width S between adjacent items with a gap L along the X axis Tis selected in this case to be relatively small (e.g., in the range of 4 to 12 mm) and is adjusted along the X axis to match the adjusted speed of the modeling head 300. In this case, the electronic control 33 can switch the extruder 30 on and off, so that the modeling material is not deposited when passing through the gap L, and there is no need to reduce the adjusted speed of the modeling head 300 when traversing the gap L.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the articles in different rows R1-R5 are spaced a distance d apart from each other along the Y-axis. The distance d can be in the range of the offset of the build passes of the build head 300. For example, the distance d is at least twice as large as the distance between each build pass. Preferably, the offset between parallel build passes of the build head 300 corresponds substantially or exactly to the width of the web of build material being placed on the build head 300. For example, the offset is in the range of 0.6 mm, and the distance d is in the range of 20-100 mm.

[0037] As shown in the speed-time diagram of FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the build head 300 can traverse at a constant, adjusted speed after an initial acceleration along the build path. The build material deposition that occurs at the nozzle head 300 when traversing the gap L is always stopped only by stopping the rotation of the extruder screw in the extruder 30. To be adjusted in the opposite adjustment direction along the parallel offset build path, the build head 300 only needs to decelerate at the end of the row R1. Compared to manufacturing methods known from the prior art, the acceleration and deceleration operations required to apply build material to the fill area F of the articles 1.1-1.5 to be manufactured are significantly less than the acceleration operations corresponding to FIG. 6. This significantly reduces the manufacturing time. For example, the build material deposition for the article width S B and / or gap width S T The smaller the number of items in rows R1 to R5, the greater the time savings. X or the number of columns N YThe same is true for the case of the proposed solution. The greater the number of individual items to be manufactured, the greater the time savings achieved by the proposed solution compared to the method outlined in FIG. 5 and the methods known from the prior art. For example, in the case of arranging a total of 25 items to be manufactured, as shown in signal 1 and FIG. 5, it can be seen that the achievable time savings are more than 25%. N X =15 and N Y For =15, the time reduction increases to over 50% (for example, S B = 20 mm and S T = 5 mm).

[0038] The proposed solution therefore creates significant time and cost advantages in so-called nesting, i.e., placing as many small articles as possible on the build platform P, which is not available in conventional extrusion additive manufacturing. The deliberate filling of rows of articles per build pass or vector, combined with the deliberate on and off placement of build material at the traversing build heads 300, significantly increases the number of articles produced on the build platform P per unit time during the build process.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, in contrast to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, it is shown that, in connection with the proposed method, it is not necessary to manufacture identical articles within rows R1-R5. Within and between rows R1-R5, the manufactured articles may differ in their geometric configuration and outer shells K, as well as, for example, in the design of their fill zones F. As an example, FIG. 3 shows a first row R1 containing identical articles 1.1-1.4 manufactured side by side along the X axis. In row R2, offset in the −Y direction, articles 2.1-2.4 are manufactured on the build platform P, but their outer shells K are different from those of articles 1.1-1.4 and differ from each other. However, the introduction of build material into the fill zones F that border each initially manufactured outer shell K with each build pass is still maintained. The extruder screw of the extruder 30 is driven when introducing the build material into the filling zone F of the articles 1.1 to 1.4, 2.1 to 2.4 to be manufactured along the build path of the build head 300. For gaps between adjacent articles, the extruder screw is stopped while the build head 300 traverses along the X axis without changing the adjustment direction and, preferably, without changing the adjustment speed.

[0040] 3 further shows an annular turning path with a radius r, along which the build head 300 crosses the end of a build pass to achieve the necessary offset for the subsequent build pass. The corresponding turning radius r is greater than the minimum technically feasible turning radius of the extruder 30, which is determined, for example, by the acceleration and weight of the build head 300 and the realization of possible closures in the nozzle head 300.

[0041] Similarly, in rows R3 and R4 illustrated in Figure 3, article sections 2.5a and 2.5b of article 2.5 can be manufactured and connected to each other in the manufacturing process to form a single (here, central) article section 2.5c of article 2.5. Here, article sections 2.5a and 2.5b of different rows are connected to each other in a further manufacturing process to form article 2.5 together with the further article section 2.5c. This article 2.5 can, for example, have a Y-shaped cross section and be provided as a pipe joint.

[0042] In the illustrated method, the fill area F of each article layer does not necessarily need to be completely filled with the introduced build material. The build head 300, controlled by the electronic control unit 33, can also form one or more internal walls, in particular a lattice structure, in the fill area F of the article as it traverses along the build path. This allows, for example, hollow chambers to be formed in the fill area F in a desired manner. These hollow chambers can be left without further filling or can be partially filled with other build material in a further work step.

[0043] The proposed solution allows for improved infill strategies for additive manufacturing or 3D printing, particularly in terms of production time, cost, and volume. The corresponding control commands for controlling the regulating operation of the extruder 30, and thus for controlling one or more printing heads 300, can be easily realized in terms of software in the electronic control unit 33 of a conventional 3D printing apparatus 3.

[0044] Furthermore, the basic idea of ​​the proposed solution is realized if, instead of a power-activated adjustment of the build head 300 relative to the build platform P (and thus, for example, relative to the build bed), a power-activated adjustment of the build platform P relative to the build head 300 is performed. Furthermore, the proposed solution is not limited to application based on a Cartesian coordinate system. For example, the (build) axis along which the build material is deposited, i.e., the build path, can also have a curved path. In particular, this can be based on a polar coordinate system. Thus, for example, the build path can extend along a circular line, i.e., along a curved (build) axis.

[0045] The build material used to manufacture the shell and / or the filling region may comprise a plastic material, a metal, or a ceramic as components. In particular, metal granules, ceramic granules, and / or plastic granules may be fed into the extruder 30 of the 3D modeling apparatus 3. Other possibilities include, for example, filament-based manufacturing or wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1.1~1.5, 2.1~2.5 Goods 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.5c Article cross section 3 Three-dimensional modeling device 30 Modeling unit / extruder 300 modeling heads 31 Adjustment Assembly 32 Material supply device 33 Control Unit d distance F filling area K Outer ward L clearance N B Number of passes N X Number of items per row N Y number of columns P Modeling Platform r radius R1~R5 Article row S B width S T Gap width

Claims

1. A method for additive manufacturing of a plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) by utilizing at least one build head (300) of a three-dimensional modeling apparatus (3), wherein the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) are successively built-up along an axis (X-axis) on a build platform (P), comprising: In the layer plane of each of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) that are successive to one another along the axis (X), an outer shell (K) is first produced via the at least one shaping head (300), which forms a boundary with a filling area (F) of each of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5), Subsequently, the at least one build head (300) is adjusted along the axis (X-axis) to continuously introduce build material into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) along a first build path, and thereafter the build head (300) is again adjusted along the axis (X-axis) to continuously introduce build material into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) along a second build path offset from the first build path.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the build heads (300) is adjusted in a first adjustment direction (+X) along the axis (X-axis) during adjustment along the first build path, and wherein the build head (300) is adjusted in a second adjustment direction (-X) opposite to the first adjustment direction (+X) along the build axis (X-axis) during adjustment along the second build path.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the build material is introduced into the filling region (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) in the layer plane by reciprocating the build head (300) along mutually offset parallel build paths across all the outer contours (K) of each of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) manufactured adjacent to each other along the axis (X-axis).

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) are arranged along the axis (X-axis), and after a build material is introduced into the filling zone (F) of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) of a row (R1-R5) along the first build pass, a further build material is introduced into the same filling zone (F) of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) of the same row along the second build pass.

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) are separated from one another by a gap (L) along the axis (X-axis), and during an adjustment movement of the build head (300) along a build path in which build material is introduced into the filling region (F) of a plurality of the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5), the placement of build material from the build head (300) is stopped when crossing the gap.

6. In the method according to claim 5, the shaping head (300) comprises a rotatable extruder screw, forming part of an extruder (30) of the three-dimensional shaping device (3) through which shaping material is delivered to the shaping head (300), and the width (S) of the gap (L) between the articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) is adjusted so that placement of the shaping material can be stopped by stopping the extruder screw when crossing the gap (L). Ｔ ) are each set to a different size.

7. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plurality of articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) are arranged along the axis (X-axis) and a plurality of rows (R1 to R5) of the articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) or a plurality of rows (R1 to R5) of article cross-sections (2.5a, 2.5b) separated from one another at least in layer planes are manufactured on the build platform (P).

8. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filling area (F) is at least partially filled with a building material via the building material introduced into each filling area and / or at least one internal wall, in particular a lattice structure, is formed within the filling area (F).

9. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) produced along said axis (X-axis) are identical or different.

10. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one component of the building material used to manufacture at least one outer shell (K) or to introduce into at least one filling area (F) is a plastic material, a metal or a ceramic.

11. A three-dimensional modeling apparatus (3) for additively manufacturing a plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5) on a modeling platform (P) of the three-dimensional modeling apparatus (3), comprising at least one extruder (30) having at least one modeling head (300) for disposing a modeling material in order to layer-by-layer build the plurality of articles (1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.5), and at least one electronic control unit (33) for controlling the extruder (30) having at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory includes instructions to be executed by the at least one processor to an extruder (30) during additive manufacturing; In the layer plane of each of the successive articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) along the axis (X), an outer shell (K) is first produced via the at least one shaping head (300), which forms a boundary with a filling region (F) of each of the articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5); Subsequently, the at least one build head (300) is adjusted along the axis (X-axis) so as to continuously introduce build material into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) along a first build path, and then the build head (300) is again adjusted along the axis (X-axis) to continuously introduce build material into the filling regions (F) of the plurality of articles (1.1 to 1.5, 2.1 to 2.5) along a second build path that is offset from the first build path.

Images