Additive Manufacturing Powder Compartment for Sealed Series Production
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional additive manufacturing devices face operational downtimes and reduced automation due to manual removal of completed manufacturing orders, which disrupt the protective gas atmosphere and require laborious cleaning to prevent process powder from entering critical areas, leading to impaired production.
Innovation Solution
An additive manufacturing device with a movably arranged powder compartment that accommodates the process powder column, allowing for automated series manufacturing without opening the device, maintaining the protective gas atmosphere, and preventing powder from entering critical areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the manufacturing cylinder is lifted to remove the manufacturing order, then the manufacturing order can be removed from the additive manufacturing device, but process powder enters the process chamber and blocks gas supply openings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the process powder and manufacturing order from the process chamber by transferring them to a magazine. The magazine is positioned outside the process chamber, allowing the manufacturing order to be removed without disturbing the protective gas atmosphere or risking powder contamination of critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine serves as an intermediary container between the process chamber and the exterior. It receives the manufacturing order and process powder together, allowing safe transfer without direct exposure of the process chamber contents to the external environment.
2Ease of operation
If the additive manufacturing device is opened to remove the manufacturing order, then the manufacturing order can be accessed, but the protective gas atmosphere is destroyed and must be renewed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the manufacturing order from the process chamber while maintaining the protective gas atmosphere. The magazine provides an external storage location, allowing the process chamber to remain sealed and the protective gas atmosphere to be preserved throughout the removal operation.
3Ease of operation
If manual removal of manufacturing orders is performed, then the manufacturing order can be removed from the manufacturing cylinder, but operation-related downtimes occur and automation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements an automated self-service system where the manufacturing order and process powder are automatically transferred to the magazine using a transfer mechanism. This eliminates the need for manual operator intervention, allowing continuous operation without downtime and increasing automation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If process powder is removed from the process chamber, then the gas supply openings can be cleared, but the protective gas atmosphere must be renewed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the process powder along with the manufacturing order to the magazine, preventing powder from entering or remaining in the process chamber. This eliminates gas supply blockages without requiring atmosphere renewal, as the process chamber remains sealed and the protective gas atmosphere is maintained.
Data Source
AI summary
An additive manufacturing device, for series manufacturing of at least two manufacturing orders using a manufacturing cylinder of the additive manufacturing device, includes at least one powder compartment that is movably arranged within a process chamber of the additive manufacturing device. The additive manufacturing device is configured to move the at least one powder compartment within the process chamber. The at least one powder compartment is configured to at least partially receive a process powder column formed from a process powder in the manufacturing cylinder. The additive manufacturing device is configured to move the at least one powder compartment and the process powder column accommodated in the at least one powder compartment.