Powder application device, manufacturing apparatus, and method for additively manufacturing components from a powder material

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder application device (3) for applying powder material (5) into a working region (13) of a manufacturing apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing components from the powder material (5), said powder application device comprising: - an application element (15) which extends in a longitudinal direction on a bottom side (17) of the powder application device (3) facing, in intended use, the working region (13) of the manufacturing apparatus (1), and is designed to distribute powder material (5) over the working region (13), wherein - the powder application device (3), on a first powder application side (19) to the side of the application element (15) and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, has a first powder channel (23) which is continuously open from a top side (21), facing away from the bottom side (17) in a vertical direction, to the bottom side (17), and - on a second powder application side (25), opposite the first powder application side (19) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the side of the application element (15), has a powder storage chamber (27), wherein - the powder storage chamber (27) is designed such that a fluidic connection for powder material (5) from an interior of the powder storage chamber (27) towards the bottom side (17) is blocked in a storage position and unblocked in a dispensing position, wherein - the powder application device (3) has an actuator device (29) which is designed to actively switch between the storage position and the dispensing position.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Powder application device, manufacturing device and method for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material

[0003] The invention relates to a powder application device for applying powder material into a working area of ​​a manufacturing device for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder material, to such a manufacturing device and to a method for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material.

[0004] In a manufacturing device for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material, the powder material is applied layer by layer in a work area by a powder application device. For this purpose, the powder application device, which has an application element, is alternately displaced from a first side to a second side of the work area, with the powder material to be distributed being arranged in front of the application element in the respective orientation of a displacement direction, so that it is distributed over the work area by the application element as the powder application device is displaced. To arrange the powder material in front of the application element, a powder supply device can be provided on each side of the work area. However, this is expensive and complex both structurally and logistically, since two powder supply devices must be regularly refilled, i.e., supplied with fresh powder material.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a powder application device for applying powder material into a working area of ​​a manufacturing device for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder material, such a manufacturing device and a method for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are at least reduced, preferably avoided.

[0006] The object is achieved by providing the present technical teaching, in particular the teaching of the independent claims as well as the embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description. The object is achieved, in particular, by providing a powder application device for applying powder material to a work area of ​​a manufacturing device for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder material, comprising an application element that extends along a longitudinal direction on an underside of the powder application device that is intended to face the work area of ​​the manufacturing device and is configured to distribute powder material over the work area.wherein the powder application device has, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, on a first powder application side lateral to the application element, a first powder channel which is continuously open from an upper side facing away from the underside along a vertical direction to the underside, and a powder storage chamber on a second powder application side lateral to the application element, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, opposite the first powder application side, wherein the powder storage chamber is configured such that a fluidic connection for powder material from an interior of the powder storage chamber to the underside is blocked in a storage position and released in a dispensing position, wherein the powder application device has an actuator device which is configured to actively switch between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0007] With, on the one hand, the first powder channel, which is continuously open from the top to the bottom, and, on the other hand, the powder storage chamber, which is closed towards the bottom in the storage position, it is easily possible to coat the work area of ​​the production device from two sides, even if a powder supply device is arranged on only one of the two sides. Advantageously, if the powder application device is arranged in the region of the powder supply device, powder material can be applied through the first powder channel onto the work area in front of the application element, while, on the other hand, the powder storage chamber can be filled with powder material at the same time.Then, during the relocation of the powder application device from the side of the powder supply device to the opposite side, the powder material discharged through the first powder channel onto the work area can be distributed by means of the application element. When the powder application device has arrived on the opposite side, the powder material stored in the powder storage chamber can be discharged onto the work area in the discharge position and subsequently, upon the return relocation of the powder application device, distributed over the work area. By providing the powder application device with the actuator device, by means of which it is possible to actively switch between the storage position and the discharge position, an extremely reliable and precisely controllable possibility is advantageously created for discharging the powder material from the powder storage chamber at the right time and in the right place.

[0008] In the context of the present technical teaching, applying powder material to the work area is understood to mean, in particular, coating the work area with the powder material and / or distributing the powder material in the work area.

[0009] In particular, the powder application device has exactly one application element, in particular only one - single - application element.

[0010] In one embodiment, the application element is designed as a lip, lamella, brush, comb or blade which extends on the one hand along the longitudinal direction and on the other hand starting from the underside of the powder application device in the direction of a working surface of the working area, so that the powder material can be distributed by means of the application element when the powder application device is displaced, in particular by the application element pushing the powder material in front of it, wherein the powder material is simultaneously smoothed and runs laterally along the application element so that it is fanned out and distributed in the longitudinal direction of the application element.

[0011] In particular, the powder application device is designed such that it has a designated displacement direction. In particular, the longitudinal direction extends perpendicular to the designated displacement direction. At the same time, the longitudinal direction and the designated displacement direction define a plane that is aligned parallel to the work surface of the work area.

[0012] The powder application device—in particular the application carriage of the powder application device explained below—is preferably longer along the longitudinal direction than it is wide along the intended displacement direction. The powder application device, in particular the application carriage, also has a vertical direction which, when the powder application device is arranged as intended in the working area, corresponds to the geodetic vertical direction. The application element is also preferably longer along the longitudinal direction than it is wide along the intended displacement direction, in particular much longer in the longitudinal direction, which results in the lamella or blade shape.

[0013] The underside of the powder application device is, in particular, a geodetic underside when the powder application device is arranged as intended on the work area. Accordingly, the top side is a geodetic top side.

[0014] In this respect, the first powder channel also extends vertically, geodetically downwards, starting from the top side, in the direction of the bottom side, so that powder material can fall, in particular, from the top side through the first powder channel onto the working area.

[0015] The powder application device preferably has a second powder channel which is open towards the top and opens into the powder storage chamber. Thus, the second powder channel is closed towards the bottom in the storage position and open towards the bottom in the dispensing position. The second powder channel is also preferably oriented vertically, i.e. along the geodetic vertical direction, when the powder application device is arranged as intended on the work area, wherein on the one hand powder material can fall through the second powder channel from the top into the powder storage chamber, wherein on the other hand powder material can preferably fall from the powder storage chamber through the second powder channel or an extension of the second powder channel downwards onto the work area in the dispensing position.

[0016] A volume of the powder storage space is preferably dimensioned just so that the powder storage space can accommodate the amount of powder of a powder material layer to be applied - possibly including an overdosage factor.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the powder application device comprises an application carriage configured to be displaced above the work area, wherein the application carriage comprises the application element, the first powder channel, and the powder storage space. Preferably, the application carriage additionally comprises the second powder channel. In one embodiment, the actuator device is arranged on the application carriage. In particular, the actuator device is displaceable together with the application carriage. In this way, the actuator device can switch particularly reliably from the storage position to the dispensing position directly on the application carriage.

[0018] Alternatively, the actuator device is provided separately from the application carriage. Optionally, the actuator device is configured for fixed installation on the production device. This advantageously enables particularly simple control of the stationary actuator device; moreover, the application carriage can be designed to be lightweight, allowing it to be relocated with minimal energy consumption.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the powder storage chamber is formed by a receiving element extending along the longitudinal direction, open on one side, and mounted for rotation about a rotational axis extending along the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the powder storage chamber is thus both structurally very simple and reliable, whereby switching between the storage position and the dispensing position can be effected by simply rotating the receiving element.

[0020] In particular, the powder storage chamber itself can be moved between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0021] In one embodiment, the actuator device is configured to rotate the receiving element - and thus the powder storage space - about the axis of rotation and in this way to switch between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0022] In particular, the receiving element extends along the longitudinal direction over the length of the application element.

[0023] In particular, the receiving element has an opening extending along the longitudinal direction, in particular over the length of the application element, which opening faces the upper side in the storage position and the lower side in the dispensing position. In particular, the second powder channel opens into the opening of the receiving element in the storage position.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the powder storage chamber is designed as a slotted tube. This represents a particularly simple design for the powder storage chamber. In particular, the receiving element forming the powder storage chamber is designed as a slotted tube.

[0025] According to a further development of the invention, the powder storage chamber is delimited toward the bottom side by a closing device in the storage position, wherein the closing device is movable between the storage position and the dispensing position. Advantageously, this does not require actuation of the entire powder storage chamber, but only the closing device.

[0026] In one embodiment, the actuator device is configured to control the closing device to move between the storage position and the deployment position, and / or to move the closing device between the storage position and the deployment position.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, the closing device comprises a closing plate that can be pivoted or moved linearly between the storage position and the dispensing position. This represents a particularly simple design of the closing device.

[0028] In one embodiment, the closing plate is arranged and configured to cover a lower discharge opening of the powder storage chamber in the storage position and to release the lower discharge opening in the discharge position.

[0029] In one embodiment, the locking plate is designed as a locking plate. This represents a particularly simple and cost-effective design for the locking plate.

[0030] Preferably, the locking plate is pivotally mounted between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0031] In one embodiment, the locking device, in particular the locking plate, is prestressed into the storage position, in particular by means of a prestressing element which can be designed, for example, as a spring element, in particular as a helical spring.

[0032] According to a further development of the invention, the locking plate is displaceable between the storage position and the dispensing position by a pivoting lever arrangement, with the actuator device being configured to actuate the pivoting lever arrangement. This advantageously represents a particularly reliable design.

[0033] In one embodiment, the pivoting lever arrangement is arranged on the application carriage. Optionally, the actuator device is arranged separately from the application carriage. In particular, it is possible for the pivoting lever arrangement to be arranged on the application carriage and to be displaceable together with the application carriage, while the actuator device is arranged separately from the application carriage, in particular fixedly on the production device. The actuator device can act on the pivoting lever arrangement when the application carriage is arranged in the region of the actuator device.

[0034] In one embodiment, the pre-tensioning element that pre-tensions the locking plate into the storage position acts on the pivot lever arrangement, and / or the pivot lever arrangement itself has the pre-tensioning element.

[0035] According to a further development of the invention, the actuator device comprises an electric motor or is designed as an electric motor. This represents a particularly reliable, simple, and robust design of the actuator device.

[0036] In one embodiment, the actuator device comprises a stepper motor or servomotor, or is designed as a stepper motor or servomotor. In another embodiment, it is designed as a pneumatic actuator (cylinder) or, alternatively, as a pneumatic rotary actuator.

[0037] The problem is also solved by creating a manufacturing device for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material, with

[0038] - at least one beam generating device which is designed to generate at least one energy beam,

[0039] - at least one scanner device which is configured to irradiate a work area locally selectively with the at least one energy beam in order to produce at least one component from the powder material arranged in the work area by means of the at least one energy beam, and with a powder application device according to the invention or a powder application device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments, wherein the powder application device is displaceable relative to the work area.

[0040] As an alternative to the at least one scanner device, the at least one beam generating device can, for example, move on axes without a scanner device.

[0041] In connection with the production device, the advantages that have already been described in connection with the powder application device arise in particular.

[0042] In the context of the present technical teaching, the fact that the powder application device is displaceable relative to the work area means, in particular, that the powder application device is at least partially displaceable relative to the work area. The powder application device can be displaced completely, in particular including the actuator device. However, it is also possible for only a part of the powder application device, in particular the application carriage, to be displaceable relative to the work area, while another part of the powder application device, in particular the actuator device, is arranged spatially fixed on the production device relative to the work area.

[0043] In particular, the powder application device can be displaced along the intended displacement direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction relative to the working area.

[0044] In particular, the manufacturing device has an active displacement device for displacing the powder application device.

[0045] Additive or generative manufacturing or production of a component is understood to mean, in particular, a layer-by-layer build-up of a component from powder material, in particular a powder-bed-based method for producing a component in a powder bed, in particular a manufacturing method selected from a group consisting of selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, laser metal fusion (LMF), direct metal laser melting (DMLM), laser net shaping manufacturing (LNSM), selective electron beam melting (SEBM), and laser engineered net shaping (LENS). The manufacturing device is accordingly configured, in particular, to carry out at least one of the aforementioned additive or generative manufacturing methods.The at least one energy beam is selected, in particular, from a group consisting of an electromagnetic beam, in particular an optical working beam, in particular a laser beam, and a particle beam, in particular an electron beam. The energy beam can be continuous or pulsed, in particular continuous laser radiation or pulsed laser radiation. In one embodiment, all energy beams are laser beams. Preferably, the at least one beam generating device comprises at least one laser.

[0046] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the actuator device can be displaced together with the application carriage of the powder application device.

[0047] Alternatively, the actuator device is arranged separately from the movable application carriage and fixed in space relative to the work area on the production device.

[0048] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the powder application device is displaceable between a first working area side and a second working area side opposite the first working area side along the direction of displacement of the powder application device, wherein on a supply working area side, selected from the first working area side and the second working area side, a powder supply device is arranged, which is configured to supply the first powder channel and the powder storage space with powder material when the powder application device - in particular the application carriage - is arranged on the supply working area side.

[0049] In one embodiment, exactly one - single - powder supply device is advantageously arranged on exactly one, in particular only one - single - supply work area side, selected from the first work area side and the second work area side.

[0050] In particular, the powder storage space can be supplied with powder material from the powder supply device through the second powder channel.

[0051] In particular, the powder storage chamber and the first powder channel can be supplied with powder material - preferably simultaneously - by the powder supply device from the top side of the powder application device.

[0052] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that a passive working area side, selected from the second working area side and the first working area side, opposite the supply working area side along the displacement direction, is free of a powder supply device. Advantageously, in this embodiment, only one powder supply device is present on the one supply working area side. In particular, no powder supply device is arranged on the passive working area side.

[0053] According to a further development of the invention, the production device comprises a control device configured to control the actuator device for switching from the storage position to the dispensing position, particularly when the powder application device is arranged on the passive work area side. Thus, an automatic switching between the storage position and the dispensing position, effected by the control device, can advantageously be realized.

[0054] The control device is preferably selected from a group consisting of a computer, in particular a personal computer (PC), a plug-in card or control card, and an FPGA board.

[0055] The object is also achieved by providing a method for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material using a manufacturing device according to the invention or a manufacturing device according to one or more of the previously described embodiments, wherein a) the powder storage space of the powder application device in the storage position is supplied with powder material on a first work area side, in particular the supply work area side, wherein - preferably at the same time - powder material is applied through the first powder channel onto the work area, in particular in the displacement direction in front of the application element, wherein b) the powder application device - at least in some areas, in particular the application carriage - along the displacement direction, in particular in a first orientation,from the first working area side to a second working area side opposite the first working area side along the direction of displacement, wherein the powder material discharged through the first powder channel onto the working area is distributed over the working area, wherein, c) when the powder application device is arranged on the second working area side, it is switched to the discharge position so that powder material is discharged from the powder storage space onto the working area, wherein d) the powder application device - at least in some areas, in particular the application carriage - is displaced along the direction of displacement, in particular in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, from the second working area side back to the first working area side, wherein the powder material discharged from the powder storage space onto the working area is distributed over the working area.

[0056] In connection with the method, in particular those advantages arise which have already been described previously in connection with the production device or the powder application device.

[0057] The displacement changes its orientation between the working area sides along the displacement direction, whereby the powder material on the respective working area side is always applied in front of the application element in the direction of the next upcoming orientation of the displacement.

[0058] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the powder material arranged in the working area is irradiated with the at least one energy beam before step c) - in a step b1) - or in step c).

[0059] An object to be manufactured is produced, in particular, by cyclically repeating steps a) to d) – either including step b1) or by irradiation with the energy beam in step c). Irradiation with the energy beam can also occur at least partially simultaneously with the displacement of the powder application device, optionally – depending on the current orientation of the displacement direction – in front of and / or behind the application element.

[0060] Advantageously, a layer thickness of the powder material can be varied by varying a quantity of powder discharged through the first powder channel and / or introduced into the powder storage space.

[0061] A laser beam or an electron beam is preferably used as the energy beam. The component is preferably manufactured using selective laser sintering and / or selective laser melting.

[0062] As powder material, a metallic or ceramic powder can preferably be used.

[0063] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a manufacturing device with a powder application device;

[0065] Figure 2 shows a first representation of a first embodiment of a powder application device;

[0066] Figure 3 shows a second representation of the first embodiment of the powder application device;

[0067] Figure 4 shows a first representation of a second embodiment of a powder application device, and

[0068] Figure 5 shows a second representation of the second embodiment of the powder application device.

[0069] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a

[0070] Manufacturing device 1 with a powder application device 3.

[0071] The manufacturing device 1 for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material 5 has at least one beam generation device 7, which is configured to generate at least one energy beam 9, as well as at least one scanner device 11, which is operatively connected to a control device 12 and configured to locally selectively irradiate a work area 13 with the at least one energy beam 9 in order to produce at least one component from the powder material 5 arranged in the work area 13 by means of the at least one energy beam 9. Furthermore, the manufacturing device 1 has the powder application device 3, which is configured to apply the powder material 5 into the work area 13 and is displaceable relative to the work area 13 along a designated displacement direction—here horizontally in the image plane from left to right and back.The at least one beam generating device 7 is preferably a laser, and the at least one energy beam 9 is preferably a laser beam.

[0072] The powder application device 3 has an application element 15 that extends along a longitudinal direction—here perpendicular to the image plane—on an underside 17 of the powder application device 3 that is intended to face the work area 13, and is configured to distribute the powder material 5 over the work area 13. Furthermore, the powder application device 3 has, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction—in the displacement direction—on a first powder application side 19 lateral to the application element 15, a first powder channel 23 that is continuously open from an upper side 21 facing away from the underside 17 along a vertical direction—vertical in the image plane—to the underside 17. Furthermore, the powder application device 3 has a powder storage chamber 27 on a second powder application side 25 lateral to the application element 15, opposite the first powder application side 19, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction—in the displacement direction.The powder storage chamber 27 is configured such that a fluidic connection for the powder material 5 from an interior of the powder storage chamber 27 to the underside 17 is blocked in a storage position and released in a dispensing position. The powder application device 3 further comprises an actuator device 29, shown in Figure 3, which is configured to actively switch between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0073] In particular, the powder application device 3 is displaceable between a first working area side 31 (shown here on the left) and a second working area side 33 (shown on the right) opposite the first working area side 31 along the displacement direction. On the first working area side 31, as a supply working area side, a powder supply device 35 (shown only in c) is arranged, which is configured to supply the first powder channel 23 and the powder storage space 27 with the powder material 5 when the powder application device 3 is arranged on the supply working area side. No powder supply device is arranged on the second working area side 33, as a passive working area side.

[0074] The control device 12 is particularly configured to control the actuator device 29 for switching from the storage position to the dispensing position, particularly when the powder application device 3 is arranged on the passive work area side. The powder application device 3 has, in particular, an application carriage 37 that is configured to be displaced above the work area 13, wherein the application carriage 37 has the application element 15, the first powder channel 23, and the powder storage chamber 27. Preferably, the application carriage 37 also has a second powder channel 39, shown in Figure 2, which is open toward the top side 21 and opens into the powder chamber 27.

[0075] It is possible for the actuator device 29 to be arranged on the application carriage 37 and to be displaceable together with the application carriage 37 (see Figures 2 and 3). Alternatively, the actuator device 29 can be provided separately from the application carriage 37 (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0076] Figure 1 also shows schematically at a) to c) a process for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder material 5.

[0077] In a) it is shown very schematically that powder material 5 is, on the one hand, applied through the first powder channel 23 in front of the application element 15 onto the working area 13, wherein, on the other hand, the powder storage chamber 27 is loaded with the powder material 5 in the storage position.

[0078] The powder application device 3 - in particular the application carriage 37 - is now displaced in the storage position along the displacement direction in a first orientation represented by a first arrow PI from the first working area side 31 to the second working area side 33, wherein the powder material 5 discharged through the first powder channel 23 onto the working area 13 is distributed on the working area 13, while the powder material 5 arranged in the powder storage space 27 is carried along.

[0079] Preferably, a substrate plate 40 forming or supporting the working area 13 is now displaced downwards - as shown by a third arrow P3 - in order to create space for a further layer of powder material in the working area 13.

[0080] In b), it is shown that when the powder application device 3 is arranged on the second work area side 33, it is switched to the dispensing position so that the powder material 5 is dispensed from the powder storage chamber 27 onto the work area 13. Once the powder material 5 has been dispensed from the powder storage chamber 27, it is preferably switched back to the storage position. After the powder material 5 has been dispensed from the powder storage chamber 27, the powder application device 3 - in particular the application carriage 37 - is displaced along the displacement direction in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, represented by a second arrow P2, from the second work area side 33 back to the first work area side 31, wherein the powder material 5 dispensed from the powder storage chamber 27 onto the work area 13 is distributed over the work area 13.It is thus clear that the powder material 5 is always applied both on the one hand through the first powder channel 23 and on the other hand from the powder storage space 27 with a view to the respective orientation of the subsequent displacement in front of the application element 15, so that it can be distributed by this on the working area 13.

[0081] The powder material 5 arranged in the working area 13 is irradiated with the at least one energy beam 9 after or during the application of a new layer of powder material, that is to say optionally during the distribution of the powder material 5 on the working area 13 by the application element 15.

[0082] An object to be manufactured is thus produced layer by layer, in particular by cyclically repeating the process steps explained here.

[0083] Preferably, the substrate plate 40 is also cyclically displaced downwards, ie lowered, in order to continually create space for the new layer of powder material to be applied in the working area 13.

[0084] Finally, at c) it is shown that the powder storage chamber 27 in the storage position on the first working area side 31, i.e. the supply working area side, is supplied with the powder material 5 by the powder supply device 35, wherein the powder material 5 is also discharged - preferably at the same time - through the first powder channel 23 onto the working area 13 in front of the application element 15.

[0085] The layer thickness of a powder material layer to be applied in the working area 13 can be varied by varying the amount of powder discharged through the first powder channel 23 and / or introduced into the powder storage space 27 - and preferably also a downward displacement path of the substrate plate 40.

[0086] Fig. 2 shows a first representation of a first embodiment of the powder application device 3. Identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures, so that in this respect reference is made to the preceding description.

[0087] In particular, Figure 2 shows, in a partially sectioned view, the application carriage 37 of the powder application device 3. This carriage also has the second powder channel 39, which is open toward the top side 21 and opens into the powder storage chamber 27. Also shown are the first powder channel 23 and the application element 15.

[0088] In the first embodiment shown here, the powder storage chamber 27 is formed by a receiving element 41 extending along the longitudinal direction, open on one side, and mounted for rotation about a rotation axis D extending along the longitudinal direction - see Figure 3. Thus, the powder storage chamber 27 itself is displaced between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0089] In particular, the receiving element 41 extends along the longitudinal direction over the length of the application element 15.

[0090] The receiving element 41 has an opening 43 extending along the longitudinal direction, in particular over the length of the application element 15, which faces the upper side 21 in the storage position and the lower side 17 in the dispensing position. In particular, the second powder channel 39 opens into the opening 43 in the storage position.

[0091] Preferably, the receiving element 41 and thus also the powder storage space 27 are designed as a slotted tube.

[0092] Fig. 3 shows a second representation of the first embodiment of the powder application device 3.

[0093] In this first embodiment, the actuator device 29 is arranged on the application carriage 37 and can be displaced together with it.

[0094] In particular, the actuator device 29 is configured to rotate the receiving element 41—and thus the powder storage chamber 27—about the rotation axis D and thus switch between the storage position and the dispensing position. Preferably, the actuator device 29 comprises an electric motor, in particular a stepper motor or servo motor, or is designed as an electric motor. Preferably, the actuator device 29 is designed as a pneumatic rotary actuator.

[0095] Fig. 4 shows a first representation of a second embodiment of the powder application device 3.

[0096] In this second embodiment, it is provided that the powder storage chamber 27 is delimited in the storage position towards the underside 17 by a closing device 45, wherein the closing device 45 is displaceable between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0097] The actuator device 29, not shown here, is preferably configured to control the closing device 45 to move between the storage position and the deployment position, and / or to move the closing device 45 between the storage position and the deployment position.

[0098] In particular, the closing device 45 has a closing plate 47, which is preferably designed as a closing plate and pivotable between the storage position and the dispensing position. This closing plate 47 is preferably arranged and configured to cover a lower dispensing opening 49 of the powder storage chamber 27 in the storage position and to expose the lower dispensing opening 49 in the dispensing position. In particular, the closing plate 47 is pivotally mounted between the storage position and the dispensing position.

[0099] In a particularly simple manner, the application carriage 37 in the second embodiment is formed by wall elements 51 aligned parallel to one another, which are mechanically connected to one another by connecting elements 53.

[0100] Fig. 5 shows a second illustration of the second embodiment of the powder application device 3.

[0101] The closing plate 47 is preferably displaceable between the storage position and the dispensing position by a pivoting lever arrangement 55 arranged on the application carriage 37, wherein the actuator device 29 (not shown here) is configured to actuate the pivoting lever arrangement 55. In the second exemplary embodiment, the actuator device 29 is arranged separately from the application carriage 37, in particular spatially fixed on the production device 1, wherein the actuator device 29 can act on the pivoting lever arrangement 55 when the application carriage 37 is arranged in the region of the actuator device 29. The closing device 45, in particular the closing plate 47, is preferably prestressed into the storage position, in particular by means of a prestressing element 57, which can be designed, for example, as a spring element, in particular as a helical spring 59.

[0102] The pivot lever arrangement 55 itself has the pre-tensioning element 57; at the same time, the pre-tensioning element 57 acts on the pivot lever arrangement 55 and urges it and thus also the locking plate 47 into the storage position.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Powder application device (3) for applying powder material (5) into a working area (13) of a manufacturing device (1) for the additive manufacturing of components from the powder material (5), with an application element (15) which extends along a longitudinal direction on an underside (17) of the powder application device (3) intended to face the working area (13) of the manufacturing device (1) and is designed to distribute powder material (5) on the working area (13),wherein the powder application device (3) has, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, on a first powder application side (19) lateral to the application element (15), a first powder channel (23) which is continuously open from an upper side (21) facing away from the underside (17) along a vertical direction up to the underside (17), and a powder storage chamber (27) on a second powder application side (25) lateral to the application element (15) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction opposite the first powder application side (19), wherein the powder storage chamber (27) is configured such that a fluidic connection for powder material (5) from an interior of the powder storage chamber (27) to the underside (17) is blocked in a storage position and released in a dispensing position, wherein the powder application device (3) has an actuator device (29) which is configured to actively switch between the storage position and the dispensing position.

2. Powder application device (3) according to claim 1, wherein the powder application device (3) has an application carriage (37) which is designed to be displaced above the work area (13), wherein the application carriage (37) has the application element (15), the first powder channel (23) and the powder storage space (27), and wherein the actuator device (29) is arranged on the application carriage (37), or wherein the actuator device (29) is provided separately from the application carriage (37) and is optionally designed for spatially fixed arrangement on the production device (1).

3. Powder application device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the powder storage space (27) is formed by a one-sidedly open Receiving element (41) is formed which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (D) extending along the longitudinal direction.

4. Powder application device (3) according to claim 3, wherein the powder storage space (27) is designed as a slotted tube.

5. Powder application device (3) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the powder storage space (27) in the storage position is delimited towards the underside (17) by a closing device (45), wherein the closing device (45) is displaceable between the storage position and the dispensing position.

6. Powder application device (3) according to claim 5, wherein the closing device (45) has a closing plate (47) which can be pivoted or linearly moved between the storage position and the dispensing position.

7. Powder application device (3) according to claim 6, wherein the closing plate (47) is displaceable between the storage position and the dispensing position by a pivoting lever arrangement (55), wherein the actuator device (29) is configured to actuate the pivoting lever arrangement (55), wherein optionally the pivoting lever arrangement (55) is arranged on the application carriage (37), and wherein further optionally the actuator device (29) is arranged separately from the application carriage (37).

8. Powder application device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator device (29) has an electric motor or is designed as an electric motor.

9. Manufacturing device (1) for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material (5), with - at least one beam generating device (7) which is designed to generate at least one energy beam (9), - at least one scanner device (11) which is configured to irradiate a working area (13) locally selectively with the at least one energy beam (9) in order to produce at least one component from the powder material (5) arranged in the working area (13) by means of the at least one energy beam (9), and with a powder application device (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the powder application device (3) is displaceable relative to the working area (13).

10. Manufacturing device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the actuator device (29) - displaceable together with an application carriage (37) of the powder application device (3), or - is arranged spatially fixed on the production device (1) separately from the displaceable application carriage (37) relative to the working area (13).

11. Manufacturing device (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the powder application device (3) is displaceable between a first working area side (31) and a second working area side (33) opposite the first working area side (31) along a direction of displacement of the powder application device (3), wherein on a supply working area side, selected from the first working area side (31) and the second working area side (33), a powder supply device (35) is arranged, which is configured to supply the first powder channel (23) and the powder storage space (27) with powder material (5) when the powder application device (3) is arranged on the supply working area side.

12. Manufacturing device (1) according to claim 11, wherein a passive work area side opposite the supply work area side along the displacement direction, selected from the second work area side (33) and the first work area side (31), is free of a powder supply device (35).

13. Manufacturing device (1) according to one of claims 9 to 12, with a control device (12) which is designed to control the actuator device (29) for switching from the storage position to the dispensing position, in particular when the powder application device (3) is arranged on the passive work area side.

14. A method for the additive manufacturing of components from a powder material (5) using a manufacturing device (1) according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein a) the powder storage space (27) of the powder application device (3) in the storage position on a first work area side (31) is charged with powder material (5), wherein powder material (5) is applied through the first powder channel (23) onto the work area (13), wherein b) the powder application device (3) is displaced along a displacement direction from the first working area side (31) to a second working area side (33) opposite the first working area side (31) in the displacement direction, wherein the powder material (5) discharged through the first powder channel (23) onto the working area (13) is distributed on the working area (13), wherein, c) when the powder application device (3) is arranged on the second working area side (33), it is switched to the discharge position so that powder material (5) is discharged from the powder storage space (27) onto the working area (13), wherein d) the powder application device (3) is displaced along the displacement direction from the second working area side (33) back to the first working area side (31), wherein the powder material (5) discharged from the powder storage space (27) onto the working area (13) is distributed on the working area (13) is distributed.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the powder material (5) arranged in the working area (13) is irradiated with the at least one energy beam (9) before step c) or in step c).

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