Construction Platform Reference Marking for AM Position Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Additive manufacturing methods, such as selective laser melting, face challenges in reproducibility due to inadequate monitoring and documentation of the construction platform's position and deformation state during the complex process of producing components like turbine blades, which require precise production tolerances and microstructure control.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the creation of a marking region on the construction platform with reference features, allowing for optical scanning to determine the absolute position and orientation, enabling deformation state registration, and facilitating stress and alignment monitoring through precise optical scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additive manufacturing is used to produce complex components, then manufacturing flexibility and design freedom are improved, but reproducibility and process control deteriorate due to inadequate monitoring of construction platform position and deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign freedomVSAvoidreproducibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Reference features are marked on the construction platform before the additive manufacturing process begins. These features serve as predetermined reference points that enable subsequent optical scanning and position determination, allowing the system to establish a baseline for monitoring deformation and position changes during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical scanning system captures the position of reference features during and after manufacturing, providing feedback information about construction platform deformation and position changes. This feedback enables comparison with the initial state to assess process reproducibility and quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If monitoring and documentation of construction platform parameters are enhanced, then process reproducibility is improved, but device complexity and measurement requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess reproducibilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Reference features act as intermediaries between the construction platform and the optical scanning system. These features simplify the measurement task by providing distinct, easily detectable markers that the optical system can reliably identify and track, reducing the complexity of the monitoring system while improving measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with optical scanning methods. By using non-contact optical techniques to detect the position of reference features, the system achieves precise monitoring without the mechanical complexity, contact issues, and interference problems associated with traditional mechanical measurement devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If optical scanning with reference features is implemented, then position and deformation measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidprocess time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Reference features are marked on the construction platform before manufacturing begins, so that no additional marking or setup time is required during the manufacturing process itself. The optical scanning can be performed efficiently by simply detecting these pre-established reference points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The optical scanning system creates a digital copy or map of the reference feature positions, which can be rapidly processed and compared with the initial state. This digital representation enables fast, automated analysis of position and deformation changes without requiring physical measurement interventions during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 method improves the reproducibility of the additive manufacturing process by allowing for precise monitoring and documentation of the construction platform's state, enhancing the quality control and alignment of components during and after manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

using an optical scanning method, in particular laser scanning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser scanning: Laser

Data Source

PatentUS11186043B2Method for determining the position of a construction platform for additive manufacturing of a component

Publication Date: 2021.11.30 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A method for determining the position of a construction platform for additive manufacturing of a component, includes marking a construction platform for additive manufacturing, providing a marking region of the construction platform with reference features, wherein the reference features are arranged and designed in such a way that a position of the reference features relative to a reference point are captured using an optical scanning method, and optically scanning the construction platform in the marking region and capturing the relative position with the aid of the reference features and the reference point.