METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS WITH A TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLABLE PRINT HEAD

• US 20150266238A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Gunther, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 11,097,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 64/364 Conditioning of environment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0005 containing compounding ingredients releasing, lubricating or separating agents B29C33/56, fibers B29K2105/08, B29K2105/12; fillers B29K2105/16, recycled material B29K2105/26
• 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 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional models by a layering technique, particulate build material being applied to a build space, and binder material subsequently being selectively applied to the build material with the aid of a printer, the binder material containing a moderating agent and subsequently being sintered with the aid of a heat lamp, the print head being protected against overheating by active and/or passive cooling.

Claims

1. A device for producing three-dimensional models by a layering technique, particulate build material being applied to a build space, a moderating agent subsequently being selectively applied with the aid of an ink-jet print head, and the printed areas being solidified by supplying energy, characterized in that the print head is protected against overheating by active and/or passive cooling.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the print head has a temperature sensor, a temperature controller and internal means for cooling and for heating.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling takes place with the aid of the print medium to be printed;

or

the cooling takes place with the aid of cooling air which is flushed around sensitive parts in the interior of the print head;

or the cooling of the print head takes place by dissipating heat with the aid of an additional fluid medium;

or

the cooling takes place with the aid of Peltier elements.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the print head is protected against the residual energy of the build space and the particulate material and active energy supply on the build space by partitioning.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the print head is protected by an external cooling means.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the condensate formation on the print head is prevented by temperature control and by controlling the humidity.

9. The device according to claim 3, wherein an evaporator is disposed in the print head.

10. The device according to claim 4, wherein the device is characterized by one or any combination of the following:

i) the print head is moved behind a flexible or fixed wall in the build space;

or

ii) a collision with the wall is detected by sensors in the print head or the wall;

or

iii) the partitioning takes place using a movable wall;

or

iv) an air curtain partitions off the print head.

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the external cooling means includes:

actively moving cooling air to flow around the print head;

or

the print head is brought into contact with a cool object or a fluid from the outside;

or

the print head is passively cooled in a cooled chamber.

12. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device includes metal cooling plates positioned at reversing points in the build space for cooling the print head by passing the print head over the metal cooling plates.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the print head has a temperature sensor, a temperature controller and internal means for cooling;

the cooling of the print head takes place with the aid of

i) the print medium to be printed;

or

ii) cooling air which is flushed around sensitive parts in the interior of the print head;

or

iii) an additional fluid medium for dissipating heat;

or

iv) Peltier elements; and

the print head is protected against the residual energy of the build space and the particulate material and active energy supply on the build space by partitioning.

7. The device for producing three-dimensional models by a layering technique, particulate build material being applied to a build space, a moderating agent subsequently being selectively applied to the build material by a printer, and the printed areas being solidified by supplying energy, characterized in that a lamp is used to supply energy, which emits an essentially linearly distributed radiation and which is guided over the build space in such a way that the radiation essentially evenly covers the entire build space.

8. The device according to claims 7, characterized in that the power of the lamp is controlled in segments and may thus also be regulated.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the lamp essentially emits IR radiation in the wavelength range of 1 μ

m to 4 μ

m.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the lamp is spatially located at a distance from the print head in its idle position.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the lamp is separated from the print head by partitioning in its idle position.

16. The device of according to claim 15, wherein

the partitioning takes place with the aid of a flexible or fixed wall;

or

the partitioning takes place with the aid of an air curtain;

or

the partitioning takes place with the aid of a movable wall.

18. A method for building a three-dimensional model by a layering technique comprising:

applying a particulate material to a build space,

subsequently selectively applying a moderating agent with an ink-jet print head for preparing a printed area,

supplying energy to the build space for solidifying the printed area, and protecting the print head against overheating.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of protecting the print head includes actively cooling the print head.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of protecting the print head includes passively cooling the print head.