SELECTIVELY OPENABLE SUPPORT PLATEN FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
First Claim
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming an object, the additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
- a platform to support the object being formed, the platform comprisinga first support plate comprising a plurality of first holes,a second support plate arranged below the first support plate and comprising a plurality of second holes, the second support plate being movable relative to the first support plate in a plane parallel to a top surface of the first support plate between an aligned configuration and a misaligned configuration;
a dispensing system overlying the support plate to dispense a powder over the top surface of the first support plate; and
a energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the first support plate to form a fused portion of the powder,wherein, in the aligned configuration, the plurality of first holes are aligned with the plurality of second holes such that unfused powder can pass through the first holes into the second holes, and wherein, in the misaligned configuration, the plurality of first holes are misaligned with the plurality of second holes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for forming an object includes a platform to support the object. The platform includes a first support plate including first holes and a second support plate arranged below the first support plate and including second holes. The second support plate is movable relative to the first support plate between an aligned configuration and a misaligned configuration. The apparatus further includes a dispensing system overlying the support plate to dispense a powder over the top surface of the first support plate and an energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the first support plate to form a fused portion of the powder. In the aligned configuration, the first holes are aligned with the second holes such that unfused powder can pass through the first holes into the second holes. In the misaligned configuration, the first holes are misaligned with the second holes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming an object, the additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
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a platform to support the object being formed, the platform comprising a first support plate comprising a plurality of first holes, a second support plate arranged below the first support plate and comprising a plurality of second holes, the second support plate being movable relative to the first support plate in a plane parallel to a top surface of the first support plate between an aligned configuration and a misaligned configuration; a dispensing system overlying the support plate to dispense a powder over the top surface of the first support plate; and a energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the first support plate to form a fused portion of the powder, wherein, in the aligned configuration, the plurality of first holes are aligned with the plurality of second holes such that unfused powder can pass through the first holes into the second holes, and wherein, in the misaligned configuration, the plurality of first holes are misaligned with the plurality of second holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of additive manufacturing for forming an object, the method comprising:
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dispensing a powder over a first and second support plate; applying an energy to the powder to form a fused portion of the powder; and moving the first support plate relative to the second support plate arranged below the first support plate to cause unfused powder to pass through the second support plate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification