Laminate Molding Apparatus Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laminate molding apparatuses using the powder bed fusion method, inert gas leakage and external air entry occur due to pressure differences, leading to sintering failures and occupational health concerns from fume leakage.
Innovation Solution
A laminate molding apparatus with a chamber, laser irradiation device, inert gas supply, fume collector, and evacuate device, where the evacuate device adjusts inert gas evacuation to maintain atmospheric pressure within the chamber equal to external pressure, using an intake port, filter portion, evacuate amount adjusting portion, controller, and evacuate port to prevent inert gas leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the inert gas supply amount is increased to maintain positive pressure and prevent fume leakage, then occupational health safety is improved, but inert gas consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and recycles inert gas that has been discharged from the chamber through the exhaust device. The inert gas collection device captures the discharged inert gas and returns it to the chamber, reducing the need for continuous fresh inert gas supply while maintaining positive pressure conditions that prevent fume leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the inert gas discharge amount is adjusted based on the sintering state and fume generation level. The controller monitors conditions and dynamically adjusts the exhaust device operation to maintain appropriate positive pressure without excessive inert gas consumption, optimizing both safety and efficiency.
2Reliability
If the inert gas supply amount is increased to ensure complete fume removal, then sintering quality is improved, but atmospheric pressure in the chamber increases causing inert gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic adjustment of inert gas supply and exhaust rates based on real-time monitoring of chamber pressure, fume generation, and sintering progress. The controller modulates the inert gas supply device and exhaust device to maintain optimal positive pressure conditions that ensure complete fume removal while minimizing inert gas leakage through gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the inert gas supply and exhaust systems during the sintering process. By adjusting flow rates, pressure differentials, and timing sequences, the system maintains sufficient positive pressure for quality sintering while controlling the magnitude of pressure differential that drives inert gas leakage.
3Quantity of substance
If the chamber is completely sealed to prevent inert gas leakage, then inert gas conservation is improved, but fume accumulation occurs causing sintering failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes fumes from the chamber through the exhaust device while maintaining a controlled positive pressure environment. The exhaust device selectively removes harmful fumes through filtration systems, allowing the chamber to remain relatively sealed for inert gas conservation while continuously extracting contaminants that would otherwise cause sintering failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controlled exhaust pathway as an intermediary mechanism between the sealed chamber and the external environment. This controlled opening allows fume removal while the overall sealed design maintains positive pressure to prevent uncontrolled inert gas leakage. The exhaust system acts as a mediator that enables both conservation and safety.
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
Prevents inert gas leakage and maintains uniform internal and external atmospheric pressures, ensuring stable sintering and reducing occupational health risks by effectively managing inert gas circulation and evacuation.
Implementation Method 1
a sintered layer is formed by irradiating a predetermined portion of the material powder layer with a laser beam and sintering it
Implementation Method 2
a dust collecting device for removing fumes from the inert gas discharged from the chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a laminate molding apparatus including a chamber, a laser irradiation device, an inert gas supply device, a fume collector, and an evacuate device. The evacuate device includes an intake port, an evacuate amount adjusting portion, a controller, and an evacuate port. The intake port is connected to any part of the laminate molding apparatus through which the inert gas flows, and takes in the inert gas. The evacuate amount adjusting portion adjusts an evacuate amount of the inert gas. The controller controls the evacuate amount adjusting portion to evacuate the inert gas such that an atmospheric pressure in the chamber and an external atmospheric pressure become uniform within a range in which leakage of the inert gas from the chamber is suppressed. The evacuate port evacuates the inert gas from which fumes have been removed to the outside of the laminate molding apparatus.