3D PRINTING METHOD WITH RAPID DRYING STEP

• US 20160311167A1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Gnther, Daniel, Gnther, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 9,981,426 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 10/322 of the gas flow, e.g. rate or direction
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2201/50 air
• 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 64/165 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: 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

The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional models by means of a layering technique, particulate build material being applied to a build space in a layer, and a binder fluid then being selectively applied to the build material, proceeding in layers, and these steps being repeated until the desired model is produced, a controlled air flow being conducted through the applied build material, as well as a device for carrying out the method and thus produced models.

Claims

1. A method for producing three-dimensional models by means of a layering technique, comprising the steps of:

applying a particulate build material in a layer onto a build space, and then selectively applying a binder fluid to the build material, and repeating these steps until a desired model is produced layer by layer,

wherein the method includes a controlled air flow being conducted through the applied build material.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled air flow flows through the build material applied to the build space while or after the layers are applied.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of introducing air inlets into the build material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlled air flow flows through the build material in the direction of gravity, counter to the direction of gravity and/or at a certain angle to the direction of gravity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, the direction of the controlled air flow is changed during the method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the boiling point of the binder fluid is below or above that of distilled water.

10. A model produced according to a method according to claim 1.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlled air flow flows through the build material applied to the build space discontinuously or continuously and flows through the build material applied to the build space in a time-controlled manner.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlled air flow essentially flows through the entire volume of the build material applied to the build space.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlled air flow essentially flows through selected areas of the build material and more preferably flows through the build material in the area of the upper build material layers.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlled air flow is heated before it enters the build material, and wherein the controlled air flow is produced by overpressure or by underpressure.

7. A device for producing three-dimensional models by means of a layering technique comprising:

one or multiple means for producing a controlled air flow in the build material.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the one or multiple means generate(s) an overpressure or an underpressure, and the device includes a retention system having smaller effective pores than the average grain size of the particulate build material.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the flow directions and the flow intensity of the means for generating a controlled air flow are controllable.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein, the device includes a retention system having larger effective pores than the average grain size of the particulate build material.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein the material of the retention system is a screen mesh, a filter structure, an open-pore sintered material and/or a porous material/

17. The device of claim 16, wherein, the means for the controlled air flow are mounted above, below or on the side of the build container;

and the device includes at least two at least partially air-permeable walls in the build container and/or an at least partially air-permeable base and preferably at least one air flow channel system.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least partially air-permeable base and/or at least one of the at least partially air-permeable walls is/are in contact with the means for generating the controlled air flow via an air flow means,

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the build material is in contact via a plate provided with an air flow means and placed on the build material.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the device includes multiple means for generating a controlled air flow.