Device for sintering, removing material and/or labeling by means of electromagnetically bundled radiation

• US 20040045941A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cl Schutzrechtsverwaltungs Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Cl Schutzrechtsverwaltungs Gmbh
• Inventors: Herzog, Kerstin, Herzog, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/415,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045941A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.6
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/02 Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0838 by using an endless conveyor belt
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/34 Laser welding for purposes other than joining
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/047 moving work to adjust its position between soldering, welding or cutting steps B23K37/053 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for sintering, removing material and/or labeling by means of electromagnetically bundled radiation, especially to a laser sintering machine and/or a laser surface-processing machine. Said device comprises a construction space (3) which is accommodated in a machine housing (2) and in or above which the following are located: a light-guiding device, especially a scanner (4), into which the beam of a sintering energy source is coupled; a vertically displaceable workpiece platform (7); and a material supply device comprising a coater (9) for supplying sintering material from a supply container (8) to the process area above the workpiece platform (7). Said workpiece platform (7) is a changeable element which can be removed from the construction space (3). The vertically displaceable workpiece platform (7), the supply container (8) and the coater (9) are configured in such a way that they can be removed together from the construction space (3) in the form of a changeable process platform unit (10). Other changeable process platform units (10) with the same or different configurations can be introduced into the construction space (3) in order to carry out the same or different processing operations.

Claims

1. Device for sintering, ablation and/or labeling by means of electromagnetically bundled radiation, especially laser sintering machines and/or laser surface processing machines, with a construction space (3) accommodated in a machine housing (2), in or above which are arranged a light-conducting device, in particular a scanner (4) into which is coupled the beam of a sinter energy source, a vertically displaceable work piece platform (7) and a material-supplying device with a coater (9) serving for feeding sintering material from a supply container (8) into the process area over the work piece platform (7), whereby the work piece platform (7) is removable from the construction space (3) as a changeable element, characterized in that the vertically displaceable work piece platform (7), the supply container (8) and the coater (9) are constructed as process platform/changeable units (10) capable of being removed, while remaining connected together, from the construction space (3), and that other process platform/changeable units (10) of the same or different design can be brought into the construction space (3) for carrying out similar or other processing operations.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that another process platform/changeable unit (10) of different design displays a table-like clamping surface (11) and clamping elements for work pieces (13) that work together with the clamping surface.

3. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the work piece platform (7), the process platform/changeable unit (10) or the clamping surface (11) is constructed to be vertically displaceable.

4. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that another process platform/changeable unit (10), work piece platform (7) or clamping surface (11) is automatically rotatable about at least one vertical axis (14).

5. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that another platform/changeable unit (10), work piece platform (7) or clamping surface (11) is tiltable about horizontal axes (15).

6. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the rotatability and/or the tiltability about the horizontal axes (15) is accomplished by motorized drives.

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that motorized drives are controlled by a process computer of the device (1).

8. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that stop elements (16) are provided in the construction space in order to be able to bring different process platform/changeable units (10) into defined process positions.

9. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that each process platform/changeable unit (10) displays a coding that can be recognized by reading elements of the device (1).

10. Device according to claim 9 characterized in that because of the coding of the process computer of device (1), different process programs (sintering, fusing, and/or labeling, ablation, welding, measuring of distance) can be selected.

11. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the process platform/changeable units (10) can be locked with stop elements in their operating position in the construction space (3).

12. Device according to claim 11 characterized in that the stop elements can be motor driven in order to automatically adjust the process platform/changeable units (10) in their processing position.

13. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the process platform/changeable units (10) are constructed as rolling modules equipped with castors 17 that can be placed into the construction space (3).

14. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the process platform/changeable units (10) display a box-like housing (18).

15. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that motorized drives for resetting the position or location of the process platform/changeable units (10) are disposed in the box-like housing (18).

16. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that when bringing the process platform/changeable units (10) into the construction space (3), electrical connections and/or flow channels (20) are automatically produced between the device (1) and the process platform/changeable units (10).

17. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that each process platform/changeable unit (10) displays a separate processor device, and a transfer of data is effected via data transfer means arranged in the construction space (3).

18. Device according to claim 17 characterized in that the data transfer means are constructed as optical interfaces.

19. Device according to one of the claims 17 or 18 characterized in that the data transfer means display plug contacts.

20. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the location of the clamped work piece (13) can be automatically recognized.

21. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that disposed in the construction space (3) is a location recognition device for the process platform/changeable units (10), and any process platform locations or positions can be recognized by the process computer of the device (1), and when running off the particular process technology (sintering/fusing, and/or labeling, ablation, welding, measuring distance) will be taken into account.

22. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that the clamping elements (12) are arranged on a manipulator that can be controlled by the process computer.

23. Device according to one of the foregoing claims characterized in that disposed on the process platform/changeable unit (10) is a removal device (21) for loose and/or incompletely sintered powder in the vicinity of the work piece platform (7).

24. Device according to claim 23 characterized in that the removal device (21) is provided in the lower part of the process platform/changeable unit (10).

25. Device according to one of the claims 23 or 24 characterized in that the removal device (21) includes a suctioning device (22).

26. Device according to one of the claims 23-25 characterized in that the removal device (21) includes a conveying device (23) for transport of the powder into the supply container (8).