CONSTRUCTION OF A 3D PRINTING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COMPONENTS

• US 20150290881A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Hartmann, Andreas Dominik, Schmid, Dominik
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/14 by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/55 Two or more means for feeding material
• 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: B29C 64/141 using only solid materials
• 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 64/35 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/357 Recycling
• 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 invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional models, comprising a coater, which includes an ejection opening, at least one print head, which is mounted on a print axis, the ejection opening of the coater being disposed toward the top in the coating direction, and the print head being disposed counter to the coating direction with the opposite orientation on the printing axis behind the coater in the coating direction; the invention also relates to a method for producing three-dimensional models.

Claims

1. A device for producing three-dimensional models, comprising a coater having an ejection opening, at least one print head, wherein the print head is mounted on a print axis, the ejection opening of the coater being disposed toward the top in the coating direction and the print head being disposed counter to the coating direction with the opposite orientation on the print axis behind the coater in the coating direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising a coater cleaning unit, a coater filling unit, central particulate material supply unit, a conveyor belt, an inspection unit, a print head cleaning unit with a spitting station, a capping station a drop barrier, a collecting hopper, a conveyor line for waste, a collecting hopper in the unpacking area or one or multiple channels.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes coater peripheral unit including a coater cleaning units coater filling unit, and a central particulate material supply unit wherein the coater peripheral units are disposed toward the top in the coating direction.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes print head periphery units including an inspection unit, a print head cleaning unit with a spitting station, and a capping station, wherein the print head periphery units are disposed toward the bottom in the coating direction.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a central particulate material conveyor disposed above the build space for automatically constructing the start feedstock.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a collecting hopper disposed at the front below the build space for collecting the excess particulate material.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a conveyor line for excess particulate material is disposed on the bottom of the machine.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the conveyor line has a central conveyor section, which is used to empty the collecting hoppers on the front side and the collecting hopper in the unpacking area.

9. A method for producing three-dimensional models, comprising repeatedly depositing layers of particulate material from the device according to claim 1.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising constructing a start feedstock with the aid of the device according to claim 1.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein the peripheral coater units e disposed behind a build space of the device.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the print head periphery units are disposed below a build space of the device.

13. The device according to claim 1, comprising a coater cleaning unit, a coater filling unit, a central particulate material supply unit, a conveyor belt, an inspection unit, a print head cleaning unit with a spitting station, a capping station, a drop barrier, a collecting hopper, a conveyor line for waste, a collecting hopper in the unpacking area, and one or multiple channels.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the device includes coater peripheral units, including the coater cleaning unit, the coater filling unit, and the central particulate material supply unit, wherein the coater peripheral units are disposed toward the top in the coating direction.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device includes print head periphery units including, the inspection unit the print head cleaning unit with the spitting station, and the capping station, wherein the print head periphery units are disposed toward the bottom in the coating direction.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the central particulate material conveyor is disposed above the build space for automatically constructing the start feedstock.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the collecting hopper is disposed at the front below the build space for collecting the excess particulate material.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein a conveyor line for excess particulate material is disposed on the bottom of the machine.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the conveyor line has a central conveyor section, which is used to empty the collecting hoppers on the front side and the collecting hopper in the unpacking area.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the peripheral coater units are disposed behind a build space of the device;

and the print head periphery units are disposed below a build space of the device.