METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKPIECE

• US 20190315050A1
• Filed: 10/30/2017
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Dueformantel, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 11,167,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/16 Cooling cooling extruded material B29C48/911; cooling preforms for blow moulding B29C49/6427; cooling blown articles B29C49/66; cooling tyres during post cure inflation B29D30/0643
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/124 using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/30 Auxiliary operations or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/364 Conditioning of environment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/379 Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/02 Thermal after-treatment B29C71/0063 and B29C71/0072 take precedence
• 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: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/10 Pre-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/20 Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional workpiece, in the case of which a thermoplastic material is transferred into a liquid phase by heating and is applied selectively to locations which are predetermined by the shape and the dimensions of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece is constructed in layers on a substrate carrier. According to the invention, in order for the material to be cooled and hardened, the workpiece, which is constructed in layers on the substrate carrier, is moved from a heated construction chamber into a cooling chamber, which is separate from the construction chamber. The invention also relates to an apparatus for the additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional workpiece.

Claims

1. A method for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional workpiece (1), the method comprising changing a thermoplastic material by heating to a liquid phase, selectively applying the thermoplastic material in the liquid phase at locations predetermined by the shape and the dimensions of the workpiece (1), wherein the workpiece (1) is built up in layers on a substrate carrier (2), and thereafter, to cool and solidify the material, moving the workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on the substrate carrier (2) from a construction chamber (3) into a cooling chamber (4) which is separated from the construction chamber (3).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in order to move the workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on the substrate carrier (2), the substrate carrier (2) is moved by a transport device (6).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, after the cooling and solidification of the material, the substrate carrier (2) with the workpiece (1) is removed from the cooling chamber (4) and replaced with a still unprinted substrate carrier (2′

).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cooling chamber (4) is heated for controlled cooling of the printed substrate carrier (2).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a substrate carrier (2′

) which is still unprinted is placed from the cooling chamber (4) under a printed substrate carrier (2) which is arranged in the construction chamber (3) and the printed substrate carrier (2) is subsequently moved into the cooling chamber (4).

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the construction chamber is heated.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in order to move the workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on the substrate carrier (2), the substrate carrier (2) is displaced and/or pivoted by a transport device (6).

14. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the cooling chamber (4) is also heated for preheating a substrate carrier (2′

) which is still unprinted.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cooling chamber (4) is heated for preheating a substrate carrier (2′

) which is still unprinted.

6. An apparatus for the additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional workpiece (1) from a thermoplastic material which is liquefied by heating, the apparatus comprising a construction chamber (3) for receiving a substrate carrier (2, 2′

) on which the workpiece (1) can be built up in layers, and a cooling chamber (4) which is arranged adjacent to the construction chamber (3) so that the workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on the substrate carrier (2) can be moved for cooling and solidifying the thermoplastic material from the construction chamber (3) into the cooling chamber (4).

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the construction chamber (3) and the cooling chamber (4) are separated from each other by a movable wall (5).

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a transport device (6) for moving a workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on a substrate carrier (2) from the construction chamber (3) into the cooling chamber (4).

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises at least one longitudinally and/or vertically adjustable arm (7).

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises drive means.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the cooling chamber (4) is configured to be heated for controlled cooling of the printed substrate carrier (2) and/or for preheating a still unprinted substrate carrier (2′

).

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the construction chamber (3) is configured to be heated.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a transport device (6) for moving a workpiece (1) which is built up in layers on a substrate carrier (2) from the construction chamber (3) into the cooling chamber (4), wherein the transport device displaces or pivots the workpiece.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises at least one longitudinally and/or vertically adjustable robot arm (7).

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises at least one longitudinally and/or vertically adjustable robot arm (7) arranged in the cooling chamber (4).

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises a motor and/or a lifting cylinder.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the transport device (6) comprises a motor and/or a lifting cylinder arranged outside the cooling chamber (4).