Method and arrangement for producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques
First Claim
1. A method of producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques, the method comprising:
- obtaining a computer-aided design (CAD) data set representing the workpiece in a plurality of layers, wherein the CAD data set includes a plurality of predefined layer definitions corresponding to the plurality of layers;
providing a plurality of build platforms;
providing a plurality of layer tools, wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms, and wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is configured to at least one of generate and solidify a material layer on the respective one of the plurality of build platforms;
providing a plurality of measuring heads, wherein each respective measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads is moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms;
producing a first defined material layer of the workpiece on a first build platform of the plurality of build platforms by controlling a first layer tool of the plurality of layer tools in accordance with a first layer definition based on one of the plurality of predefined layer definitions;
transferring the first defined material layer of the workpiece from the first build platform to a second build platform of the plurality of build platforms;
measuring the first defined material layer using a first measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads in order to determine individual characteristics of the first defined material layer while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform; and
producing further material layers of the workpiece on the first defined material layer by controlling a second layer tool of the plurality of layer tools in accordance with further layer definitions while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform,wherein the further layer definitions are generated from the plurality of predefined layer definitions as a function of the individual characteristics of the first defined material layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques includes obtaining computer-aided design data representing the workpiece in multiple layers. The method includes providing build platforms and layer tools. Each layer tool is moveable relative to a respective build platform and configured to generate or solidify a material layer on the respective build platform. The method includes producing a first defined material layer of the workpiece on a first build platform by controlling a first layer tool according to a first layer definition. The method includes transferring the first defined material layer from the first build platform to a second build platform and measuring the first defined material layer using a first measuring head to measure individual characteristics. The method includes producing further material layers of the workpiece by controlling a second layer tool in accordance with further layer definitions as a function of the measured individual characteristics.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques, the method comprising:
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obtaining a computer-aided design (CAD) data set representing the workpiece in a plurality of layers, wherein the CAD data set includes a plurality of predefined layer definitions corresponding to the plurality of layers; providing a plurality of build platforms; providing a plurality of layer tools, wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms, and wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is configured to at least one of generate and solidify a material layer on the respective one of the plurality of build platforms; providing a plurality of measuring heads, wherein each respective measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads is moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms; producing a first defined material layer of the workpiece on a first build platform of the plurality of build platforms by controlling a first layer tool of the plurality of layer tools in accordance with a first layer definition based on one of the plurality of predefined layer definitions; transferring the first defined material layer of the workpiece from the first build platform to a second build platform of the plurality of build platforms; measuring the first defined material layer using a first measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads in order to determine individual characteristics of the first defined material layer while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform; and producing further material layers of the workpiece on the first defined material layer by controlling a second layer tool of the plurality of layer tools in accordance with further layer definitions while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform, wherein the further layer definitions are generated from the plurality of predefined layer definitions as a function of the individual characteristics of the first defined material layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of additive manufacturing to produce a workpiece, the method comprising:
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obtaining a machine-readable description of the workpiece, wherein the description includes an ordered series of definitions, each definition defining a corresponding layer of the workpiece; and creating a series of layers according to the series of definitions, in order, wherein creating a selected layer of the series of layers includes; obtaining a three-dimensional measurement of a prior layer deposited immediately prior to the selected layer; determining a deviation between the three-dimensional measurement of the prior layer and the definition of the prior layer; determining an adjustment to counteract the deviation; creating an adjusted definition for the selected layer based on the adjustment; and creating the selected layer based on the adjusted definition.
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20. A system for producing a workpiece by using additive manufacturing techniques, the system comprising:
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a plurality of build platforms; a plurality of layer tools, wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms, and wherein each respective layer tool of the plurality of layer tools is configured to at least one of generate and solidify a plurality of material layers one on top of the other on a respective one of the plurality of build platforms; a plurality of measuring heads, with each respective measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads being moveable relative to a respective one of the plurality of build platforms; a transfer device; and a control unit comprising (i) a memory configured to store a computer-aided design (CAD) data set representing the workpiece in a plurality of layers and to store a plurality of layer definitions corresponding to the plurality of layers and (ii) a controller configured to drive the plurality of layer tools and the plurality of measuring heads relative to the respective ones of the plurality of build platforms, wherein the control unit is configured to; control a first layer tool of the plurality of layer tools in accordance with a first layer definition of the plurality of layer definitions in order to produce a first defined material layer of the workpiece on a first build platform of the plurality of build platforms, transfer the first defined material layer of the workpiece from the first build platform to a second build platform of the plurality of build platforms, control a measuring head of the plurality of measuring heads in order to determine individual characteristics of the first defined material layer while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform, and modify the plurality of layer definitions in response to the individual characteristics of the first defined material layer in order to produce further material layers of the workpiece on the first defined layer as a function of the individual characteristics of the first defined material layer, while the first defined material layer is situated on the second build platform.
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Specification