DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS

• US 20130000549A1
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet Technology GMBH (Voxeljet AG)
• Inventors: Hartmann, Andreas Dominik
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/46
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/023 Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface B05C11/021, B05C11/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/04 the particulate material being projected, poured or allowed to flow onto the surface of the work B05C19/02 takes precedence; involving spraying or electrostatic projection B05B B05C19/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/06 Storage, supply or control of the application of particulate material; Recovery of excess particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/14 by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/34 of powder characteristics, e.g. density, oxidation or flowability
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/222 for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/38 Housings, e.g. machine housings
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 1/001 Rapid manufacturing of 3D objects by additive depositing, agglomerating or laminating of material selective deposition modelling of metallic powder B22F10/00; rapid manufacturing of 3D objects in general and in particular of plastics B29C64/00
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 13/022 Feeding several successive layers, optionally of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 31/02 Dispensing from vessels, e.g. hoppers into a mould cavity B29C31/04; large containers characterised by discharge means B65D88/28, B65D88/54
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/10 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/321 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/329 using hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/251 Particles, powder or granules expandable particles B29K2105/046
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process, whereby a build platform for application of build material is provided and a support frame is arranged around the build platform, to which said support frame at least one device for dosing the particulate material and one device for bonding the particulate material is attached via the guiding elements and the support frame is moveable in a Z direction, which essentially means perpendicular to the base surface of the build platform. In so doing, the device provides a material feeding device having a particle material container to supply particulate material in batches from the storage area to the dosing apparatus and to do so with the least possible amount of shearing forces and without significant interaction with the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A device for manufacturing three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process comprising:

a build platform for application of build material is provided and

a support frame is arranged around the build platform, to which said support frame at least one device for dosing the particulate material and one device for bonding the particulate material is attached via the guiding elements, and the support frame is moveable in a Z direction, which essentially means perpendicular to the base surface of the build platform, said movement provided by at least two vertical positioning units on the support frame,

wherein a material feeding device is provided that has a particle material container to supply particulate material in batches from the storage area to the dosing apparatus and to do so with the least possible amount of shearing forces and without significant interaction with atmosphere.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a batch contains less particulate material than is required for depositing ail layers on the build platform.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein one batch is sufficient to deposit at least one layer of particulate material to the build platform.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material container can be moved vertically.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for supplying has a chain trough conveyor.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for supplying has a conveyor belt.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the particulate material container is moveable in the horizontal direction and/or pivotable.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein one batch is sufficient to deposit at least one layer of particulate material to the build platform.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the particulate material container can be moved vertically.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein the particulate material container can be moved vertically.

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the means for supplying has a chain trough conveyor.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the means for supplying has a chain trough conveyor.

15. The device according to claim 2, wherein the means for supplying has a conveyor belt.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the means for supplying has a conveyor belt.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the means for supplying has a conveyor belt.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein the particulate material container is moveable in the horizontal direction and/or pivotable.

19. The device according to claim 11, wherein the particulate material container is moveable in the horizontal direction and/or pivotable.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the particulate material container is moveable in the horizontal direction and/or pivotable.

8. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional models using a 3D printing process comprising:

a) depositing one layer of particle material from a dosing unit onto a stationary build platform;

b) selectively solidifying the particulate material by means of a bonding unit in accordance with one of the cross-sections corresponding to the model being manufactured;

c) elevating the dosing unit and, if required, the bonding unit by one particle layer thickness;

d) repeating steps a) to c) until the completed model is achieved, wherein during the manufacturing process, the particulate material is refilled into the height-variable dosing device, and wherein the particulate material is supplied in batches from the storage area to the dosing apparatus by means of a material feeding device having a particle material container.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method includes a step of moving the particulate material container in a horizontal direction and/or pivotable.