Powder Feeding Module With Closed-Loop Drying for Additive Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing machines struggle with efficiently drying powder without disrupting their operation, as current drying systems are either insufficiently effective or cause operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A circulation system and extraction system are used to dry powder without moving mechanical components, ensuring efficient drying by circulating the powder and removing moisture from its gaseous environment, while maintaining the machine's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating elements are used to raise powder temperature for drying, then drying capability is improved, but machine operational disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical mixing components with a pneumatic circulation system that uses gas flow to move and dry powder particles, eliminating the need for mechanical mixers that would disrupt machine operation while maintaining effective drying capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs pneumatic principles by using gas flow to circulate powder through the drying zone, allowing moisture removal without mechanical intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between effective drying and minimal operational disruption
2Reliability
If vacuum systems are used to extract moisture from powder, then drying effectiveness is improved, but machine complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of moisture removal from the complex vacuum system by using a simpler pneumatic circulation approach that achieves drying effectiveness without requiring full vacuum system integration, thereby reducing machine complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical mixers are used to agitate powder in reservoir, then drying uniformity is improved, but operational disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical mixing with pneumatic agitation, where gas flow circulates powder particles through the drying zone, achieving uniform drying without the operational disruption caused by mechanical mixers entering the powder reservoir
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
The solution achieves faster and more efficient powder drying without disrupting the additive manufacturing process, ensuring high-quality part production by maintaining the machine's operation.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation system, configured, when powder is present in the main hopper, to circulate the powder through a circulation loop
Implementation Method 2
an extraction system configured to extract water from a gaseous environment of the powder
Implementation Method 3
an extraction system configured to extract water from a gaseous environment of the powder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Module (2) for supplying additive manufacturing powder, comprising - a main hopper (29) for storing the additive manufacturing powder, the main hopper (29) being designed to be connected to a manufacturing module (4) configured to manufacture an object from the powder in the main hopper (29) by additive manufacturing, - an inlet (211) of the supply module (2) designed to be connected to the manufacturing module (4) and to receive powder that is in the manufacturing module (4), - a glove box (25) designed to receive a container (28), the glove box (25) being suitable for being hermetically closed, - a supply circuit configured to transfer powder that is in the glove box (25) towards the main hopper (29), - a circulation system designed to move powder in a closed circulation loop, the circulation system comprising a suction system (21) distant from the main hopper (29), the suction system (21) being designed to remove gas present in the circulation loop, the circulation loop passing via the main hopper (29) and the suction system (21).