Partitioned Lifting Forming Workbench for Selective Laser Melting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selective laser melting workbenches require large amounts of metal powder for forming, leading to high costs and dust generation, as they use an integrated structure that necessitates powder covering the entire forming area, regardless of the part size, which is inefficient and sensitive to dust.
Innovation Solution
A partitioned lifting forming type selective laser melting workbench with a forming platform and powder supplying platform, featuring radially arranged abutments that can independently rise and fall, allowing for selective powder application based on part size, reducing powder usage and dust generation through a controlled system with hydraulic drive and scraper mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If an integrated structure workbench is used for selective laser melting, then the workbench can maintain structural simplicity and ease of operation, but it requires large amounts of powder to cover the entire forming area, leading to high costs and dust generation
Solution Approach 1:
The workbench is divided into multiple independent lifting units (first lifting unit and second lifting unit) that can move separately. Each unit has its own powder receiving area and can be independently controlled to rise and fall. This segmentation allows powder to be applied only to the specific area where workpieces are being formed, rather than covering the entire workbench surface, thereby significantly reducing powder consumption and dust generation.
2Productivity
If the workbench falls the entire layer thickness for every layer formation, then the layer-by-layer forming process can be completed, but it necessitates powder covering the entire workbench area, increasing powder cost and dust generation
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting units are designed to move locally only when needed for specific forming operations. The first lifting unit rises and falls based on the forming requirements of workpieces in its powder receiving area, and the second lifting unit operates independently for its own area. This local quality approach ensures that powder is applied only to the necessary local areas rather than the entire workbench, reducing overall powder consumption while maintaining forming efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If powder is applied to the entire workbench area, then complete coverage is achieved for all possible workpiece sizes, but it increases powder usage cost and generates excessive dust that can damage the laser system
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting units are designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing them to rise and fall based on real-time forming requirements. The controller can independently control the first and second lifting units to adjust the powder receiving areas dynamically. This dynamic adjustment ensures that powder is applied only to the current working areas, maintaining adaptability for workpieces of different sizes while minimizing dust generation from excess powder.
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 significantly reduces powder consumption and dust generation by only applying powder to the necessary areas, enhancing the efficiency of the selective laser melting process and minimizing the risk of dust-related damage to the laser system.
Implementation Method 1
metal powder is completely melted under the action of heat of laser beam
Implementation Method 2
the metal powder is completely melted, and after heat dissipation and cooling, it can be formed with solid metal metallurgy by welding
Implementation Method 3
the bottoms of the forming inner abutment and each forming outer abutment and the powder supplying inner abutment and each powder supplying outer abutment are respectively provided with at least one driving device for driving their respective rise and fall
Data Source
AI summary
A partitioned lifting forming type selective laser melting workbench, comprises at least forming platform (1) for powder-spreading and sintering and forming of workpiece, the forming platform (1) comprises forming inner abutment (1-1) and at least one forming outer abutment (1-2) which is sleeved on the forming inner abutment (1-1) and arranged in sequence from the inside to the outside in a radial direction, the forming inner abutment (1-1) and each forming outer abutment (1-2) are arranged in a manner of rise and fall, the forming inner abutment (1-1) or the forming outer abutment (1-2) falls independently, or the forming outer abutment (1-2) and the adjacent forming outer abutment or/and the forming inner abutment (1-1) fall together, it can form an area (2) to be subjected to powder-spreading for laser sintering and forming of workpiece.