3D Powder Bed Shaping With Local Preheating for Scatter Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In additive manufacturing, the manufacturing operation is disrupted when powder material scatters during electron beam irradiation, leading to incomplete article production, as restarting from the beginning often results in further scattering.

Innovation Solution

An additive manufacturing device and method that preheat the powder material with a charged particle beam, increasing the thermal dose at the scattering position to suppress further scattering, allowing smooth article production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the electron beam irradiation is interrupted when powder material scattering is detected, then the manufacturing quality is maintained, but the manufacturing productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing additional preheating at positions where scattering has occurred before resuming normal manufacturing. The control unit identifies scattering positions during electron beam irradiation and applies extra preheating treatment to these specific areas beforehand, preventing potential scattering issues before they occur during subsequent manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using a detector to monitor powder material scattering in real-time during electron beam irradiation. The control unit receives detection results and automatically adjusts the manufacturing process by identifying scattering positions and applying additional preheating to those specific areas, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the electron beam irradiation is restarted from the beginning after interruption, then the manufacturing quality is ensured, but the manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing additional preheating at positions where scattering has occurred before resuming normal manufacturing. The control unit identifies scattering positions during electron beam irradiation and applies extra preheating treatment to these specific areas beforehand, preventing potential scattering issues before they occur during subsequent manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using a detector to monitor powder material scattering in real-time during electron beam irradiation. The control unit receives detection results and automatically adjusts the manufacturing process by identifying scattering positions and applying additional preheating to those specific areas, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual process conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the same irradiation position is reused after interruption, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the powder material may scatter again

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidscattering prevention reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing additional preheating at positions where scattering has occurred before resuming normal manufacturing. The control unit identifies scattering positions during electron beam irradiation and applies extra preheating treatment to these specific areas beforehand, preventing potential scattering issues before they occur during subsequent manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different irradiation positions. Instead of uniformly treating all positions, the control unit applies additional preheating specifically to positions where scattering has been detected, while maintaining normal irradiation parameters for other positions. This localized approach ensures reliability at critical positions while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device effectively suppresses powder material scattering by increasing the thermal dose at the scattering position, enabling continuous and complete manufacturing of articles.

Implementation Method 1

manufacturing an additively manufactured article by preheating a powder material by irradiating the powder material with a charged particle beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharged particle beam irradiation: Electron Beam

Implementation Method 2

increasing the thermal dose of the preheating at the position of scattering

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal dose increase: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3693164B1Three-dimensional shaping device and three-dimensional shaping method
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 IHI CORP
  • EP3693164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3693164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3693164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An additive manufacturing device manufactures an additively manufactured article by preheating a powder material by irradiating the powder material with a charged particle beam and then melting the powder material by irradiating the powder material with the charged particle beam. The additive manufacturing device includes a beam emitting unit emitting the charged particle beam and irradiating the powder material with the charged particle beam, and a position detection unit detecting a position of scattering of the powder material when the powder material scatters by being irradiated with the charged particle beam. When the powder material scatters by being irradiated with the charged particle beam, the beam emitting unit emits the charged particle beam such that a thermal dose of the preheating is increased at the position of scattering.