Additive Manufacturing Apparatus Inclination Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In powder bed modeling, achieving a uniform powder layer thickness is challenging due to deviations between the shaping stage and the flattening member's scanning trajectory, leading to uneven layer formation and errors in shape precision, especially for the first layer which affects the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that measure the inclination between the shaping surface and the flattening member's trajectory plane, adjust the shaping stage orientation to ensure parallelism, and then supply and flatten the powder layer to achieve uniform thickness, using a controller to coordinate the powder supplying and curing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shaping stage and flattening member are separately adjusted to be horizontal, then the adjustment process is simplified, but the parallelism between the shaping surface and the flattening member's scanning trajectory cannot be ensured, leading to uneven powder layer thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the adjustment of the shaping stage orientation with the adjustment of the flattening member scanning trajectory into a unified parallelism adjustment system. By measuring the inclination between the shaping surface and the trajectory plane simultaneously and adjusting both components together, the system ensures they remain parallel, thereby achieving uniform powder layer thickness while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the flattening member scans along a horizontal plane trajectory, then the scanning mechanism is simplified, but deviations from the shaping surface cause uneven powder layer thickness, affecting shape precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the inclination between the shaping surface and the flattening member's trajectory plane is measured in real-time. Based on this measurement, the orientation of the shaping stage is adjusted to ensure parallelism. This closed-loop control ensures that the flattening member consistently scans parallel to the shaping surface, maintaining uniform powder layer thickness and high shape precision without complicating the scanning mechanism.
3Loss of time
If the shaping stage orientation is not adjusted, then the setup time is reduced, but the first layer formation is inaccurate, affecting mechanical strength and thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary adjustment of the shaping stage orientation by measuring the inclination between the shaping surface and the flattening member's trajectory plane before powder layer formation. This preliminary action ensures that the first layer is formed with accurate uniformity, which is critical for the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the final product. By completing this adjustment in advance, the system minimizes setup time while ensuring high-quality first layer formation.
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
This approach ensures high shape precision and uniform powder layer thickness, stabilizing the formation of subsequent layers and enhancing the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the manufactured product by maintaining the parallelism between the shaping surface and the flattening member's trajectory, even during mass production.
Implementation Method 1
the upper surface of the shaping stage is optically detected
Implementation Method 2
selectively fusing or sintering part of the powder layer by laser light irradiation
Implementation Method 3
selective laser sintering
Implementation Method 4
a flattening member is moved in a scanning manner above the upper surface of the shaping stage along the upper surface of the shaping stage to flatten the upper surface of the powder layer
Data Source
AI summary
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a supporting portion, a powder supplying portion, a flattening member, a curing portion, and a controller. The supporting portion is configured to detachably support a shaping stage. The powder supplying portion is configured to supply powder. The flattening member is configured to move in a scanning manner above the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion. The controller is configured to execute a measuring process of detecting inclination between a shaping surface of the shaping stage attached to the supporting portion and a trajectory plane of a trajectory of scanning movement of the flattening member, an adjustment process of adjusting an orientation of the shaping stage on a basis of a detection result of the measuring process such that a degree of parallel between the shaping surface and the trajectory plane increases, a powder layer formation process, and a curing process.