DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS

• US 20130004610A1
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• 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, Ederer, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/162
• 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 64/25 Housings, e.g. machine housings
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor

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, said movement provided by at least two vertical positioning units on the support frame. In this respect, it is provided that the positioning units are respectively separate components and are arrangeable on the support frame independently from one another and the location and orientation of such can be adjusted independently from one another.

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 all positioning units are embodied as separate components that can be arranged independently of one another on the support frame and whose location and orientation can be adjusted independently of one another.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least two vertical positioning units are connected by means of a supporting structure.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure is flexibly deformable.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein every positioning unit engages with the support frame at a suspension point and is independently moveable in the Z direction.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein every supporting structure and/or every vertical positioning unit has at least three vertically adjustable feet.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suspension points of the support frame are Bessel points.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical positioning unit consists of a linear thrust unit preferentially having a linear actuator, a drive motor and a linear guide.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive units are coupled with each other via an electronic gantry system.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical positioning units have plates that are connected with each other by means of pins and/or screws/bolts and/or rivets and/or adhesives.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plates have an optimized contour to absorb high forces.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame engages with the vertical positioning units by means of bearing pins and ball-joint pivoting bearings.

12. The device according to claim 2, wherein the supporting structure is flexibly deformable.

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein every positioning unit engages with the support frame at a suspension point and is independently moveable in the Z direction.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein every positioning unit engages with the support frame at a suspension point and is independently moveable in the Z direction.

15. The device according to claim 2, wherein every supporting structure and/or every vertical positioning unit has at least three vertically adjustable feet.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein every supporting structure and/or every vertical positioning unit has at least three vertically adjustable feet.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the suspension points of the support frame are Bessel points.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the vertical positioning unit consists of a linear thrust unit preferentially having a linear actuator, a drive motor and a linear guide.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive units are coupled with each other via an electronic gantry system.

20. 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

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;

at least two vertical positioning units are connected by means of a supporting structure, wherein the Vertical positioning units have plates that are connected with each other by means of pins and/or screws/bolts and/or rivets and/or adhesives, wherein the plates have an optimized contour to absorb high forces;

drive units that are coupled with each other via an electronic gantry system;

wherein all positioning units are embodied as separate components that can fee arranged independently of one another on the support frame and whose location and orientation can foe adjusted independently of one another, and every positioning unit engages with the support frame at a suspension point, and is independently moveable in the Z direction;

wherein the suspension points of the support frame are Bessel points;

wherein the supporting structure is flexibly deformable;

wherein every supporting structure and/or every vertical positioning unit has at least three vertically adjustable feet;

wherein the vertical positioning unit consists of a linear thrust unit preferentially having a linear actuator, a drive motor and a linear guide; and

wherein the support frame engages with the vertical positioning units by means of bearing pins and ball-joint pivoting bearings.