DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

• US 20150336330A1
• Filed: 11/20/2013
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Cl Schutzrechtsverwaltungs Gmbh
• Inventors: HERZOG, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 10,780,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/55 Two or more means for feeding material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/90 Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• 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 64/35 Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/357 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (12) by successive solidification of layers of a construction material (9, 10) that can be solidified by radiation at the locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (12), said device having a housing, a construction chamber (4) accommodated therein, a dosing chamber (2, 3), an application device (11) for applying layers of the construction material (9, 10) and a conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) for transporting the construction material (9, 10), wherein at least two conveying elements (13, 17, 21; 14, 18, 22) are provided for transporting different construction materials (9, 10), said conveying elements comprising separate feed lines (37, 38) to at least one dosing chamber (2, 3).

Claims

1. A device (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (12) by successively solidifying layers of a construction material (9, 10) that is solidifiable by means of radiation at the corresponding locations of the respective cross section of the object (12), having

a housing,

a construction chamber (4) accommodated therein,

a dosing chamber (2, 3),

an application device (11) for applying layers of the construction material (9, 10) and

a conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) for transporting the construction material (9, 10),

wherein at least two conveying elements (13, 17, 21;

14, 18, 22) for transporting different construction materials (9, 10) are provided, which comprise separate feed lines (37, 38) to the dosing chamber (2, 3).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least two dosing chambers (2, 3) are provided in the device (1), and each dosing chamber (2, 3) has its own feed line (37, 38).

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one interchangeable dosing chamber (2) is provided in the device (1), the interchangeable dosing chamber (2) being connectable with at least one feed line (37, 38).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting elements of the dosing chambers (2, 3), in particular with regard to their shape, are designed in such a way that each dosing chamber (2, 3) is exclusively connectable to its associated supply line (37, 38).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least two conveying elements (13, 14, 21, 22) are designed as discharge lines, in particular of an overflow chamber (5, 6) or a dosing chamber (2, 3).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein at least two overflow chambers (5, 6) or two dosing chambers (2, 3) are provided in the device, and each overflow chamber (5, 6) or dosing chamber (2, 3) has a separate discharge line (13, 14, 21, 22).

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein provided in the device is an interchangeable overflow chamber (5) or interchangeable dosing chamber (2), which are connectable to a discharge line (13, 14, 21, 22).

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting elements of the overflow chambers (5, 6) or dosing chambers (2, 3) are designed to be different, in particular in terms of geometry, such that each overflow chamber (5, 6) or dosing chamber (2, 3) is connectable only to a single discharge line (13, 14, 21, 22) associated therewith.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a sensor device (27, 28, 29, 30) or construction material treatment device (25, 26) is arranged on at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a heating device (25, 26) or a cooling device are arranged on at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein a temperature sensor (27, 28) or pressure sensor or residual oxygen sensor (29, 30) are arranged on at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein a construction material-specific filter (15, 16) or a powder recovery device (7, 8) are arranged on or in at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a suction pipe is arranged on at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) is connectable to or connected to a powder recovery device (7, 8).

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) has at least one conveying device with at least two conveying elements (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38).

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein one conveying device is designed as a cyclotron.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) is designed as a tube.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) or a conveying device or a powder recovery device (5, 6) or a dosing chamber (2, 3) or a replenishing device (19, 20) form a closed powder circuit (23, 24).