Additive Manufacturing Cooling Flow for Fast Edge Solidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Additive manufacturing methods, such as 3D printing, face limitations in achieving rapid and defined solidification of base materials due to temporal constraints and viscosity issues, leading to unclear edges and prolonged cycle times.
Innovation Solution
A cooling gas flow is introduced using a de Laval nozzle, where a cooling medium is mixed with a carrier gas to create a turbulent flow, allowing for precise and rapid solidification of base materials without displacing them, enabling more defined edges and faster cycle times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional cooling methods are used to solidify base material, then solidification occurs, but the process is slow and edges remain unclear due to viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a de Laval nozzle to generate a high-velocity gas jet that delivers cooling medium to the solidification zone. This pneumatic delivery system enables rapid heat extraction from the molten base material, achieving fast solidification with well-defined edges while maintaining short cycle times suitable for productive manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition of the cooling medium (from liquid to gas or solid) as it contacts the hot base material. This phase change absorbs large amounts of latent heat, enabling rapid solidification of the base material with precise edge definition without extending the process cycle
2Productivity
If cooling is applied to solidify material rapidly, then cycle time reduces, but material may be displaced by the cooling flow
Solution Approach 1:
The de Laval nozzle generates a highly focused, high-velocity gas jet that delivers cooling medium precisely to the solidification zone. The controlled delivery mechanism ensures rapid cooling without excessive flow that would displace the molten or semi-solid base material, maintaining dimensional accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling medium is delivered locally and selectively to the specific region where solidification is required, rather than applying cooling broadly. This localized approach enables rapid solidification at the target zone without affecting surrounding material positioning
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 method allows for rapid and defined solidification of base materials, resulting in clearer component edges and reduced cycle times without negative effects on the manufacturing process, enabling efficient additive manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling gas flow is guided through a de Laval nozzle
Implementation Method 2
a cooling gas flow for cooling at least the region to be solidified by way of a cooling medium nozzle is introduced into a carrier gas flow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Method for the additive manufacturing of a component (17), in which the component (17) is applied layer-by-layer from a base material which in each layer at least in regions is solidified, wherein at least one cooling medium for cooling at least the region to be solidified by way of at least one cooling medium nozzle (11) is introduced into a carrier gas flow so as to form a cooling gas flow, wherein the cooling medium is present so as to be liquid and/or gaseous, wherein the cooling gas flow is guided through a de Laval nozzle (3), wherein the cooling medium flow is introduced such that the outflow of the cooling medium flow into the carrier gas flow takes place within or downstream of the de Laval nozzle (3), and the cooling gas flow (19) is directed at least onto the region to be solidified.