Segmented Additive Manufacturing Chamber for Oxygen Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Additive manufacturing processes face challenges in maintaining low oxygen concentrations within the manufacturing chamber to prevent unwanted oxidation of materials, which existing technologies struggle to manage effectively.

Innovation Solution

The additive manufacturing apparatus employs a nitrogen purging system that divides the manufacturing chamber into sections, using movable members to control gas flow and oxygen concentration, ensuring a low oxygen environment by pumping in nitrogen and maintaining pressure to prevent oxygen leakage during the 3D printing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the manufacturing chamber is purged with nitrogen to reduce oxygen concentration, then oxidation prevention is improved, but nitrogen consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation preventionVSAvoidnitrogen consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing chamber is divided into multiple sections by movable members that can partition the chamber volume. This segmentation allows nitrogen purging to be applied only to the sections containing build materials or正在进行 manufacturing, rather than the entire chamber volume, thereby reducing nitrogen consumption while maintaining effective oxygen exclusion where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Movable members are used to dynamically adjust the volume and configuration of the manufacturing chamber sections. These members can move to expand or contract the purged volume based on the actual manufacturing needs, allowing the system to maintain low oxygen concentrations in active zones while minimizing nitrogen usage by reducing the total purged volume when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of substance

If the manufacturing chamber volume is reduced to minimize nitrogen usage, then nitrogen consumption is reduced, but the ability to create large objects is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen consumptionVSAvoidmanufacturing chamber volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chamber is segmented into multiple zones that can be independently controlled. Large objects can be manufactured in an expanded volume by configuring the movable members to create a larger single section or by using multiple sections in sequence, while nitrogen purging is applied only to the active manufacturing zone, thus maintaining large object capability without proportionally increasing nitrogen consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable members enable dynamic reconfiguration of the chamber volume to match the size requirements of the object being manufactured. The system can expand the chamber volume when large objects are being produced and contract it when smaller objects are manufactured or during maintenance, optimizing nitrogen consumption based on actual volume requirements rather than using a fixed large volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If movable members are used to control gas flow and divide the chamber, then oxygen concentration control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen concentration controlVSAvoidchamber division mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable members serve multiple functions: they physically divide the chamber volume, control gas flow paths, seal off sections to maintain different oxygen concentrations, and enable chamber expansion/contraction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the added capability for precise oxygen control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 effectively reduces oxygen levels and maintains a controlled atmosphere, minimizing oxidation risks and optimizing the additive manufacturing process by using minimal nitrogen while allowing for the creation of large objects and easy maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

pumping in nitrogen to reduce oxygen concentrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas displacement:

Implementation Method 2

maintaining pressure to prevent oxygen leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11511490B2Changing the gas content of a device

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 PERIDOT PRINT LLC

AI summary

A method of changing the gas content of a device (100) which comprises a first chamber (110). The method comprises: arranging the device in a first configuration, wherein the first chamber has a first internal volume; providing a flow of a first gas to the first chamber so that the gas content of the first chamber is at least partially changed; transitioning the device from the first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the first chamber has a second internal volume which is grater than the first internal volume.