Additive Manufacturing Plant Fluid Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In additive manufacturing, unsteady process parameters due to varying inert gas and component temperatures lead to deviations and imperfections in three-dimensional objects, as heat from the manufacturing process is not effectively dissipated in closed circuits, affecting object geometry and energy deposition.
Innovation Solution
A plant with a control unit to manage fluid parameters, including temperature, flow velocity, and humidity, using temperature control units and heat exchangers to maintain stable process conditions by tempering the fluid and components, ensuring consistent temperatures throughout the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inert gas is circulated through the chamber in a closed circuit, then the chamber is protected and components are cooled, but heat cannot be dissipated and temperature varies during the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the inert gas circulation by switching between closed and open circuits based on thermal conditions. The control unit monitors temperatures and actively modulates the gas flow path to maintain optimal thermal conditions throughout the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the inert gas circuit by varying the openness/closedness of the circuit configuration. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to different thermal loads and maintain temperature stability while preserving chamber protection functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If energy beam power and exposure time are increased to process materials with high melting points, then manufacturing capability is improved, but temperature increase of components and deposited energy varies, leading to process parameter instability
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperatures of components and objects during manufacturing. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts inert gas flow rates and circulation paths to compensate for thermal variations caused by high power energy beam processing, thereby maintaining process parameter stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling of components and pre-establishes appropriate inert gas circulation patterns before high power processing begins. This preliminary action prevents excessive temperature accumulation and maintains process stability throughout the manufacturing of high melting point materials.
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 approach stabilizes process conditions, reduces imperfections in manufactured objects, allows for precise temperature control, and compensates for large temperature differences, especially when processing materials with high melting points, while minimizing heat transfer on sensitive components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one temperature control unit that is adapted to control a temperature of a fluid flowing alongside and/or through at least one component of the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of powdered build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam
Implementation Method 3
The apparatus comprises a number of functional units which are used during its operation. Exemplary functional units are a process chamber, an irradiation device which is adapted to selectively irradiate a build material layer disposed in the process chamber with at least one energy beam
Implementation Method 4
an inert gas is circulated through the chamber of the apparatus which also cools the object being manufactured and further cools various components of the apparatus as the inert gas is flowing alongside or through the component
Data Source
AI summary
Plant (1) for additively manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2), comprising: at least one build apparatus (3) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a powdered build material (4) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (5) and/or at least one apparatus (3) adapted to perform at least one pre-processing step of an additive manufacturing process and/or at least one apparatus (3) adapted to perform at least one post-processing step of an additive manufacturing process, whereby at least one control unit (6, 19, 22, 28) that is adapted to control a parameter of a fluid (7, 27) flowing alongside and/or through at least one component (8, 17, 20, 21) of the apparatus (3).