Additive Manufacturing Heat Homogenization Box

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Solution Overview

Problem

Additive manufacturing devices face challenges in achieving uniform temperature distribution in the raw material container, leading to inconsistencies in the quality and strength of manufactured articles, particularly in open containers exposed to varying temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A temperature homogenization box is integrated into the additive manufacturing device, featuring a channel with a heat source that ensures a homogeneous temperature distribution across the raw material surface, maintaining a temperature difference of no more than 15 degrees Celsius, thereby optimizing the heating process and preventing hot spots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an open raw material container is used to facilitate raw material supply, then raw material supply is simplified, but temperature uniformity deteriorates due to exposure to varying temperature surroundings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveraw material supplyVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A temperature homogenization box is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat source and the open raw material container. This box receives heat from the heat source and distributes it uniformly across the raw material surface, mediating between the need for open container access and temperature uniformity requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a heat source region, a temperature homogenization box with internal channels for heat distribution, and the raw material container. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together to achieve overall temperature uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If a heat source is added to achieve uniform temperature distribution, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature homogenization box merges multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both a heat distribution channel and a temperature control mechanism. The box integrates the heat source interface, heat distribution pathways, and raw material heating function into one unified structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature homogenization box performs multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes heat uniformly, maintains temperature control, protects the raw material container from direct heat exposure, and facilitates even heating across the entire raw material surface without requiring separate systems for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution ensures a uniform temperature distribution, enhancing the coherence and strength of manufactured articles by maintaining precise temperature control, reducing energy consumption, and improving the predictability of solid article quality.

Implementation Method 1

The heat generated by the heat source is transferred to the cross-sectional area delimited by the second wall edges in such a way that a homogeneous temperature distribution in this cross-sectional area is obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3434479B1Additive manufacturing device comprising a heat transfer optimization
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 SINTRATEC AG
  • EP3434479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3434479B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3434479B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An additive manufacturing device (1) for manufacturing a solid article (10), comprises an energy beam generation unit (3), a raw material supply unit (4), a raw material container (5) containing a raw material (6) including a raw material surface (7) exposed to an energy beam (8) to be emitted by the energy beam generation unit (3) in operation. The heat source (2) includes a heating surface (12) for heating the raw material surface (7) to form a pre-heated raw material surface (17). The energy beam generation unit (3) is disposed with a directing unit (13) to direct the energy beam (8) onto the pre-heated raw material surface (17). The pre-heated raw material surface (17) forms the upper surface of an uppermost layer of raw material (6), such that the uppermost layer of raw material (6) is transformed into a coherent sub-structure in the spots exposed to the energy beam (8) such that the solid article (10) is formable by the coherent structure formable from each sub-structure in each of the plurality layers of raw material including the uppermost layer of raw material (6). The heat source (2) is arranged between the energy beam generation unit (3) and the raw material container (5). A temperature homogenization box (100) is arranged between the energy beam generation unit (3) and the raw material container (5) when the additive manufacturing device (1) is in operation.