Additive Manufacturing Platform With Dual-Axis Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In additive manufacturing machines, the center region of the work plate experiences low tangential speed, limiting its usability and capacity for forming three-dimensional articles due to inefficient powder distribution and melting.
Innovation Solution
A platform device with a support member that is rotatable about two perpendicular axes, allowing the center region to be moved and enabling continuous powder deposition and melting by adjusting the angular speeds and using a single drive shaft for rotational movements, along with a gear wheel and internal gear member for synchronized rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the work plate rotates about a single central axis, then the structure is simple, but the center region cannot be used for forming articles due to low tangential speed
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is rotated from a single-axis rotation about the central point to a dual-axis rotation system. The first rotation axis is offset from the center, and a second rotation axis rotates the entire first rotation axis, creating a complex spatial motion that allows all regions including the center to achieve sufficient tangential speed for powder distribution and melting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotation speeds of the two axes to optimize the tangential speed distribution across the support member surface. By controlling the angular velocities of both rotation axes, the system ensures that even regions that would normally have low speed in a single-axis rotation achieve sufficient speed for effective additive manufacturing.
2Productivity
If the center region is used for forming articles, then the productivity increases, but the powder distribution and melting efficiency decreases due to low tangential speed
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing a second rotation axis that rotates the first rotation axis itself, the system creates a three-dimensional motion pattern. This ensures that powder particles receive sufficient centrifugal force and tangential speed even in regions that would be central in a simple rotation, thereby maintaining consistent powder distribution and melting quality across the entire support member surface.
3Device complexity
If a single drive shaft is used for rotational movements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control of synchronized rotation becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it rotates about its own axis to drive the first rotation, and it also rotates about a second axis to drive the second rotation. This merging of rotation functions into a single component simplifies the overall drive mechanism while the control system coordinates the two rotational motions to achieve the desired dual-axis rotation pattern.
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 configuration enhances the usability and capacity of the platform device by allowing the entire surface to receive powder for selective melting, optimizing the manufacturing process and maintaining the powder bed level during article formation.
Implementation Method 1
the support member is rotatable about a first rotation axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface
Implementation Method 2
the support member and the first rotation axis are rotatable about a second rotation axis arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis
Implementation Method 3
an energy beam source for providing the energy beam used for melting the powder
Implementation Method 4
the energy beam is used to selectively melt the powder layer. The melted material solidifies and form a solid layer
Implementation Method 5
the gear wheel is in engagement with the internal gear member for movement about the second rotation axis
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a platform device (4) for forming a three-dimensional article (2) in an additive manufacturing machine layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers (3), which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the three-dimensional article. The platform device (4) has a support member (5) with a surface (6) for receiving powder. The support member (5) is rotatable about a first rotation axis (13) extending in a direction (15) substantially perpendicular to the surface (6). The support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) are rotatable about a second rotation axis (14) arranged substantially in parallel with and offset to the first rotation axis (13).