Concealable Lid Holder for Additive Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing apparatuses using laser beams face contamination issues due to the accessibility of the lid in the process chamber during workpiece manufacturing, which compromises the cleanliness of the environment.
Innovation Solution
A lid holder is integrated into the process chamber to store and conceal the lid, allowing it to be removable and movable, with options for soft-close and push-to-open systems, ensuring the lid is only inside when needed and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lid is freely accessible in the process chamber during additive manufacturing, then the lid can be easily accessed and removed, but the lid becomes contaminated during manufacturing compromising cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is extracted from the process chamber environment and stored in a dedicated lid holder that can be positioned outside the process chamber. This separation allows the lid to be accessed and removed without being exposed to contamination sources within the process chamber during manufacturing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A lid holder serves as an intermediary component between the process chamber and the lid. This intermediate structure provides a controlled interface for lid storage and retrieval, preventing direct contact between the lid and potential contamination sources in the process chamber environment.
2Ease of operation
If the lid holder is integrated into the process chamber interior, then the lid can be stored conveniently, but it may obstruct workpiece fabrication operations
Solution Approach 1:
The lid holder is designed with movable capabilities, allowing it to be repositioned or removed from the process chamber interior when not in use. This dynamic configuration enables the lid holder to be present during lid storage operations and absent during workpiece fabrication to avoid obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid holder is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently positioned and removed from the process chamber. This segmentation allows the lid storage function to be decoupled from the workpiece fabrication space, eliminating potential obstructions during manufacturing operations.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for additive manufacturing of a workpiece with a laser beam. Preferably, the apparatus (10) is designed to build up the workpiece in layers, each layer consisting of powder which is at least locally connected by the laser beam. The workpiece can be manufactured in a workpiece container (14) with a lowerable and liftable holder, and the powder can be provided from a powder container (16). Preferably, the workpiece container (14) and/or the powder container (16) is/are each connected to a process chamber (12) of the apparatus (10) via an opening (18a, b). The opening(s) (18a, b) can each be closed with a lid (20a-c), which can be stored in a lid holder (22). The lid holder (22) preferably projects into the process chamber (12) in its open state and is hidden behind an inner wall (24) of the process chamber (12) in its closed state. A bottom plate (32) of the lid holder (22) can be aligned with the inner wall (24) in the closed state of the lid holder (22).