3D Powder Spreading with Vibratory Sieving and Plasma Neutralization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional powder bed fusion 3D printing technologies face challenges with ultrafine powders due to agglomeration and non-uniform distribution, leading to rough surface finishes and incomplete layers, which are not conducive to high-precision part formation.
Innovation Solution
A 3D printing powder spreading apparatus and method that includes a powder tank, first powder spreading part, vibrating sieve, plasma mechanism, and forming platform to convey, loosen, and uniformly distribute ultrafine powder using vibratory sieving, plasma treatment, and controlled spreading to eliminate static electricity and melt burrs, ensuring uniform layer formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ultrafine powder is used to reduce particle size, then surface finish precision is improved, but powder agglomeration increases and uniform distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibrating sieve that utilizes mechanical vibration to separate and distribute ultrafine powder particles. The vibration frequency and amplitude are controlled to prevent agglomeration while achieving uniform distribution across the forming platform, directly addressing the contradiction between fine particle size and powder uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical spreading methods with a plasma-based system. The plasma mechanism uses electromagnetic fields to eliminate static electricity and melt burrs on powder particles, substituting mechanical contact-based distribution with a non-contact plasma field approach to achieve better powder uniformity
2Stability of the object's composition
If plasma treatment is applied to eliminate static electricity and melt burrs, then powder uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma mechanism operates in a periodic manner, applying plasma treatment only when needed during the powder spreading process. The plasma is activated to eliminate static electricity and melt burrs at specific stages of powder handling, rather than continuously, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining powder uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls plasma parameters such as power, duration, and spatial distribution to optimize the balance between achieving powder uniformity and minimizing energy consumption. By adjusting plasma density and treatment duration, the system achieves effective powder treatment with reduced energy input
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 apparatus achieves uniform distribution of ultrafine powder on the forming platform, enabling the formation of higher precision parts by reducing agglomeration and ensuring complete, uniform layers.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma mechanism disposed in a discharge direction of the powder after being conveyed by the first powder spreading part and configured to release plasma to the powder to eliminate static electricity and/or to melt burrs of the powder
Implementation Method 2
at least one vibrating sieve disposed in a direction that the first powder spreading part conveys the powder and configured to receive the powder conveyed by the first powder spreading part and to perform vibratory sieving to achieve loosening treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a 3D printing powder spreading apparatus and method and a 3D printing device, the powder overflowing from the powder tank (10) is conveyed into a vibrating sieve (12) by means of a first powder spreading part (11); the vibrating sieve (12) vibrates at a certain frequency to vibrate and sieve the powder entering the vibrating sieve (12), so that the powder is spread out and made looser; then a plasma mechanism (13) releases plasma to the powder sieved from the vibrating sieve (12) so as to remove the static electricity of the powder, and additionally, raised burrs on the surfaces of ultrafine powder particles can be quickly melted and spheroidized in a high-pressure plasma environment, and the melted and spheroidized ultrafine powder is scattered on a forming platform (14).