Shielding Gas Temperature Control for Additive Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for producing three-dimensional workpieces by irradiating layers of raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation face challenges in maintaining uniform temperature, leading to significant temperature gradients and internal stresses due to inadequate heating and cooling solutions, which affect the quality of the workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A shielding gas control system that adjusts the temperature and flow rate of the shielding gas to maintain a controlled atmosphere within the process chamber, using temperature control elements and a heat exchanger to provide heating or cooling directly to the workpiece, thereby addressing temperature gradients and improving product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional heating and cooling solutions are used in the process chamber, then the apparatus structure is simple, but significant temperature gradients and internal stresses occur leading to poor workpiece quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shielding gas as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy to the workpiece. Instead of direct contact heating/cooling mechanisms, the shielding gas serves as a mediator that conveys heat from the laser irradiation process and ambient temperature differences, enabling temperature control without complex direct thermal contact apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the temperature of the shielding gas as a parameter to regulate workpiece temperature. By adjusting the shielding gas temperature through controlled introduction of gas at different temperatures, the workpiece temperature can be modulated to prevent excessive gradients and internal stresses.
2Manufacturing precision
If the shielding gas temperature is not controlled, then the gas supply system is simple, but temperature gradients cause internal stresses affecting workpiece quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the shielding gas to control workpiece temperature. By introducing shielding gas at controlled temperatures (cooler or warmer than ambient), the system regulates heat transfer to the workpiece, preventing excessive temperature gradients and internal stresses without requiring complex direct heating/cooling apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding gas performs multiple functions: it protects the workpiece from atmospheric contamination, assists in temperature control, and serves as a heat transfer medium. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated heating/cooling systems, balancing workpiece quality improvement with acceptable system complexity.
3Temperature
If heating devices are added to pre-heat the raw material powder, then temperature uniformity improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the shielding gas itself as the heating medium rather than introducing separate heating devices. The shielding gas, potentially pre-heated or at controlled temperature, serves dual purposes: protecting the workpiece and providing thermal energy. This self-service approach improves temperature uniformity without adding dedicated heating apparatus or excessive energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding gas performs multiple functions including protection, heat transfer, and temperature control. By using the same gas flow for both shielding and thermal management, the system avoids additional heating devices and their associated energy consumption, achieving temperature uniformity through the multi-functional shielding gas system.
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 shielding gas control system effectively manages temperature gradients by heating or cooling the shielding gas to match the needs of the workpiece, enhancing the quality of three-dimensional workpieces by reducing internal stresses and ensuring consistent material characteristics across the workpiece height.
Implementation Method 1
using temperature control elements and a heat exchanger to provide heating or cooling directly to the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
heating or cooling the shielding gas to match the needs of the workpiece
Implementation Method 3
transfers at least part of said heat... to the first temperature control element for heating the shielding gas
Data Source
Figure 1~2C
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional workpiece (16), said apparatus (10) comprising: a carrier (14) being arranged in a process chamber (12) of the apparatus (10) and adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder (13); an irradiation device for selectively irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder (13) applied onto the carrier (14) in order to produce the workpiece (16) from said raw material powder (13) by an additive layer construction method; and a shielding gas supply system (20) adapted to supply a shielding gas to the process chamber (12), wherein the apparatus further comprises a shielding gas control system (30) that is adapted to control the temperature of the shielding gas.