ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING DEVICE

• US 20160059308A1
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Incodema3D, LLC
• Original Assignee: Incodema3D, LLC
• Inventors: Volk, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/18 by mixing binder with metal in filament form, e.g. fused filament fabrication [FFF]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/30 Platforms or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/67 Blades
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/90 Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• 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: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

An additive-manufacturing device including a build chamber. The additive-manufacturing device further includes a base adjustably coupled to the build chamber. The additive-manufacturing device further includes a build platform adjustably coupled to the base and configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an additive-manufacturing device comprising;

a build chamber;

a base adjustably coupled to the build chamber; and

a build platform adjustably coupled to the base and configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base, in a direction perpendicular to the base in response to pressure applied to a build piece by the additive-manufacturing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base, in a direction perpendicular to the base in response to flexure of a build piece during an additive-manufacturing process.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is separated from the build platform by springs.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one spring is positioned above the build platform and at least one spring is positioned below the build platform;

and

wherein the spring positioned above the build platform has a different stiffness than the spring below the build platform.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the build platform comprises a spring-couple comprising two springs and two posts.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a first spring surrounds a first posts, a second spring surrounds a second post, and the two springs are between the base and the build platform.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the spring-couple comprises four springs.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a first spring and third spring surround a first post, a second spring and fourth spring surround a second post, and first and second springs are between by the base and the build platform and third and fourth springs are between the build platform and heads of posts.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is separated from the build platform by motor-driven spacing devices.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is separated from the build platform by compressible solid spacers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one compressible solid spacer is positioned above the build platform and at least one compressible solid space is positioned below the build platform;

and

wherein the compressible solid spacer positioned above the build platform has a different deformation factor than the compressible solid spacer below the build platform.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one compressible solid spacer is positioned above the build platform and at least one compressible solid spacer is positioned below the build platform;

and

wherein the compressible solid spacer positioned above the build platform has a different size than the compressible solid spacer below the build platform.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is separated from the build platform by pneumatic devices.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one pneumatic device is positioned above the build platform and at least one pneumatic device is positioned below the build platform;

and

wherein the pneumatic device above the build platform has a different deformation factor than the pneumatic device below the build platform.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical stop configured to limit the range of travel of the build platform, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mechanical stop is further configured to limit the range of travel of the build platform, relative to the base, in a first direction that is perpendicular to the base more than in a second direction that is perpendicular to the base.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first direction is a direction from the build platform to the base and the second direction is a direction opposite of the first direction.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein to manufacture a build piece in an additive-manufacturing process, the additive-manufacturing device is configured to sweep a blade over a build piece.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, such that the blade does not latch with the build piece.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, by a distance less than a distance between two neighboring layers of an additive-manufacturing process.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, by a distance less than or equal to 40 μ

m.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, by a distance greater than or equal to 20 μ

m.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, by a distance that is less than or equal to 40 μ

m and greater than or equal to 20 μ

m.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the build platform is configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base, by a distance that is less than or equal to 10 mm.

26. The system of claim 1, comprising at least a first motion-control device above the build platform, at least a second motion-control device below the build platform, the first motion-control device is different from the second motion-control device.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein, by flexing, the build platform relieves stress in the build piece.

28. A method comprising:

additively manufacturing an article of manufacture by an additive-manufacturing device comprising;

a build chamber;

a base adjustably coupled to the build chamber; and

a build platform adjustably coupled to the base and configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base

29. An article of manufacture manufactured by an additive-manufacturing device comprising:

a build chamber;

a base adjustably coupled to the build chamber; and

a build platform adjustably coupled to the base and configured to travel, relative to the base and perpendicular to the base.