3D Printing Shroud Segmentation for Laser Irradiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 3-dimensional object-forming apparatuses, inactive gas discharged through a discharge port can blow up or scatter powder layers, leading to defects and reduced quality of the formed objects, especially when the inactive gas supply cover is gradually narrower towards the discharge port.
Innovation Solution
A 3-dimensional object-forming apparatus with a shroud having a double structure, including an inside space and an outside space, where inactive gas is introduced through an air supply port closer to one end and exhausted through an exhaust port at the other end, with a larger ventilation area at the other end to prevent gas flow velocity reduction and powder scattering, ensuring efficient laser irradiation and object quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If inactive gas is discharged through a discharge port to prevent fume accumulation, then irradiation efficiency is maintained, but powder is blown up and scattered leading to defects
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud is divided into an inside space and an outside space separated by a partition wall. The air supply port is positioned in the inside space while the exhaust port is positioned in the outside space. This segmentation allows the inactive gas to be introduced at one location and exhausted at another, preventing gas discharge directly onto the powder layer while maintaining effective fume removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the air supply port and the powder layer. It guides the inactive gas flow through the inside space and forces it to exhaust through the exhaust port in the outside space, preventing direct contact between the discharged gas and the powder layer, thus avoiding powder scattering while maintaining effective ventilation.
2Speed
If the inactive gas supply cover is formed to be gradually narrower towards the discharge port, then gas flow is concentrated, but powder scattering is enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud structure segments the gas flow path into distinct inside and outside spaces. The air supply port is located in the inside space while the exhaust port is located in the outside space. This segmentation allows the gas flow to be directed through a controlled path that does not discharge directly onto the powder layer, preventing powder scattering even when gas flow velocity is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall serves as an intermediary that redirects the gas flow. It allows the inactive gas to maintain its flow velocity through the inside space while preventing direct discharge onto the powder layer. The gas is forced to transition through the partition wall structure and exhaust through the exhaust port, thereby maintaining flow efficiency without causing powder scattering.
3Manufacturing precision
If the ventilation area is reduced to control gas flow, then powder scattering is prevented, but gas flow velocity decreases reducing ventilation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud is segmented into inside and outside spaces with distinct ventilation areas. The air supply port is positioned in the inside space with a larger ventilation area to maintain gas flow velocity, while the exhaust port is positioned in the outside space. This segmentation allows different ventilation areas to serve different functions: the inside space provides sufficient flow velocity for effective ventilation, while the outside space configuration prevents powder scattering.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall acts as an intermediary that decouples the ventilation area requirements. It allows the inside space to have a larger ventilation area for maintaining gas flow velocity while the outside space configuration prevents powder scattering. The partition wall redirects the gas flow so that the ventilation effectiveness and powder scattering prevention functions are achieved in different spatial zones.
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 configuration prevents pollution of the laser irradiation unit, maintains high laser light transmittance, and avoids defects in the object by controlling the flow of inactive gas and powder, ensuring improved irradiation efficiency and object quality.
Implementation Method 1
a protection member that is arranged in the one end opening of the shroud, configured to transmit laser light emitted from the laser irradiation unit through the inside space of the shroud and to pass the laser light through the other end opening to an external space of the shroud
Implementation Method 2
a laser irradiation unit that has an optical system... powder which configures the powder layer is sintered or melt-solidified
Implementation Method 3
powder which configures the powder layer is sintered or melt-solidified
Implementation Method 4
powder which configures the powder layer is sintered or melt-solidified
Implementation Method 5
an air supply port for supplying air to the inside space is provided in a position closer to the one end opening of the shroud than the other end opening of the shroud
Implementation Method 6
an exhaust port for exhausting air from the outside space
Data Source
AI summary
A 3-dimensional object-forming apparatus is provided which may avoid lowering of irradiation efficiency of laser light due to fumes and so forth while avoiding lowering of quality of the formed object. A shroud 20 includes an inside partition wall portion 21 that demarcates an inside space S1 which extends from one end opening 202 to another end opening 206, and an outside partition wall portion 22 that opens in the other end opening 206 of a shroud 20 on an outside of the inside space S1 and demarcates, together with the inside partition wall portion 21, an outside space S2 which closes in a position closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206 of the shroud. A ventilation area of the inside space S1 in the other end opening 206 of the shroud 20 is larger than the ventilation area of the inside space S1 in an upstream portion closer to the one end opening 202 than the other end opening 206.