POWDER DELIVERY FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
First Claim
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming an object, the additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
- a platen to support the object being formed;
a dispensing system positionable over the top surface of the platen, the dispensing system includinga hopper to hold powder to be dispensed,a dispenser, the dispenser havinga channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the channel of the dispenser configured to receive the powder from the powder source;
a powder conveyor positioned within the channel to move the powder from the proximal end along a length of the channel, anda plurality of apertures arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel, the dispenser configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable;
an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and
an energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the platen to form a fused portion of the powder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a dispensing system positionable over a platen to deliver a powder, an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis, and an energy source to fuse a portion of the powder. The dispensing system has a hopper to hold the powder and a dispenser. The dispenser includes a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end of the channel of the dispenser is configured to receive the powder from the powder source. A powder conveyor is positioned within the channel to move the powder from the proximal end along a length of the channel, and a plurality of apertures are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel. The dispenser is configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming an object, the additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
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a platen to support the object being formed; a dispensing system positionable over the top surface of the platen, the dispensing system including a hopper to hold powder to be dispensed, a dispenser, the dispenser having a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the proximal end of the channel of the dispenser configured to receive the powder from the powder source; a powder conveyor positioned within the channel to move the powder from the proximal end along a length of the channel, and a plurality of apertures arranged along the longitudinal axis of the channel, the dispenser configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable; an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and an energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the platen to form a fused portion of the powder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming an object, the additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
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a platen to support the object being formed; a dispensing system positionable over the top surface of the platen, the dispensing system including a hopper to hold powder to be dispensed, and a dispenser to receive powder from the hopper, the dispenser having a plurality of apertures arranged along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable conveyor to move the powder along the longitudinal axis, the dispenser configured such that flow of powder through each aperture is independently controllable, the conveyor configured such that rotation of the conveyor in a first direction urges the powder in a first direction and rotation of the conveyor in an opposite second direction urges the powder in an opposite second direction; a motor to drive the conveyor; a controller coupled to the motor, the controller configured to cause the conveyor to alternate between rotation in a first direction and the second direction during dispensing of the powder to form the object; an actuator to move the dispensing system along a scan axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and an energy source to apply energy to the powder dispensed on the top surface of the platen to form a fused portion of the powder. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 14, 15)
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12. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the conveyor is positioned in the channel.
Specification