Device for producing a three-dimensional object, especially a laser sintering machine

• US 6,554,600 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
• Original Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
• Inventors: Hofmann, Robert, Turck, Harald, Mattes, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, EMMANUEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/581,381
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 264/308, 264/497, 425/174.4, 425/182, 425/375, 425/447
• US Class Current: 425/174.4
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/34 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/259 Interchangeable
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional part by successive layer-by-layer solidification of a solidifiable material, which is solidified at locations corresponding to the cross section of the part is described. The apparatus has a machine housing and a building space provided in the machine housing. An interchangeable container forms a delimiting frame for the material within the building space. The container has a work piece platform. The work piece platform is supported on a supporting device during operation of the apparatus. Preferably, the interchangeable container has a rear side wall with a recess extending vertically, and the supporting device engages the work piece platform through the recess.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional part by successive layer-by-layer solidification of a solidifiable material, which is solidified at locations corresponding to the cross section of said part, said apparatus comprising:

a machine housing;

a building space provided in the machine housing;

an interchangeable container forming a delimiting frame for said material within said building space, said container having a work piece platform; and

a supporting device, on which said work piece platform is supported during operation of the apparatus,

said interchangeable container further comprising a rear side wall having a recess extending vertically, and said supporting device engaging said work piece platform through said recess.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said work piece platform is adjustable in position within said delimiting frame and is structured and arranged for integration in the container as the container bottom.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said apparatus further comprising:

exit optics of a sintering laser located in said building space; and

a material feeding device, said material feeding device comprising a reservoir and a coating device for feeding a powdery sinter material onto said work piece platform;

wherein said work piece platform is arranged below said building space.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interchangeable container has sidewalls and said work piece platform is structured and arranged to be latched to said side walls to form a container bottom such that said interchangeable container with the work piece platform forming said container bottom can be withdrawn from said building space as a unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the side walls and the work piece platform have alignable bores, said apparatus further comprising sliding plugs for insertion into the aligned bores to latch the work piece platform to the side walls.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interchangeable container comprises four side walls substantially perpendicular to each other and has, in plan view, a substantially rectangular or square cross section in which said work piece platform is movable in a height-adjustable manner.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said machine housing comprises a machine rear wall and said supporting device is moved in an area of said machine rear wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting device is incorporated into a lower portion of said interchangeable container as a component thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said machine housing has side walls surrounding said building space, said side walls containing guides, and wherein said interchangeable container is structured and arranged to be inserted into said guides.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interchangeable container comprises supporting angles at an upper end, wherein said supporting angles extend laterally away from said container and engage the guides on said side walls of said machine housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recess has a powder seal that keeps a powder material in an area above the work piece platform.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said powder seal is a silicone plate having dimensions that are structured and adapted to the sidewalls of said interchangeable container.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recess is sealed by a roller shutter.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said rear side wall of the container has an upper edge and said roller shutter has an upper end, which is mounted to said upper edge of the rear side wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said roller shutter is a steel roller shutter.

16. The apparatus of claims 13, further comprising magnet elements positioned adjacent to said roller shutter to cooperate therewith.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a deflection pulley having a rear edge that is aligned with an inner surface of said rear side wall for guiding said roller shutter.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said work piece platform comprises an upper and a lower bottom spaced from and arranged parallel to each other, the upper bottom providing a work piece holder and the lower bottom resting on said supporting device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interchangeable container has sidewalls and said work piece platform has outer edges, said apparatus further comprising a powder compression element that is active between said sidewalls and said outer edges.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said work piece platform is connected to said supporting device during operation of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interchangeable container comprises a recess through which the supporting device can be engaged and in which the supporting device can be displaced.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a powder seal between the recess and said building space such that no unsolidified material can escape.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a telescoping linear guide that connects to said supporting device for raising and lowering said work piece platform.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a working plate that is provided in the building space, said working plate having a bottom side and a clamping device for engaging the interchangeable container at the bottom side.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coupling device for coupling and decoupling said work piece platform from said supporting device.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controllable heating device in said interchangeable container.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controllable heating device in a side wall of said interchangeable container.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controllable heating device in said work piece platform.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting device is structured and arranged to lower the interchangeable container without displacing the supporting device.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for lifting and locking the interchangeable container simultaneously.

31. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional part by successive layer-by-layer solidification of a solidifiable material, which is solidified at locations corresponding to the cross section of said part, said apparatus comprising:

a machine housing;

a building space provided in the machine housing;

an interchangeable container forming a delimiting frame for said material within said building space, said container having a work piece platform; and

a supporting device, on which said work piece platform is supported during operation of the apparatus;

wherein said interchangeable container comprises a recess through which the supporting device can be engaged and in which the supporting device can be displaced;

wherein said recess is formed in a slot-shaped manner in a direction of displacement of the supporting device, further comprising a tape seal mounted to a wall of said interchangeable container above said recess, said tape seal surrounding said recess and being pressed against the wall by said work piece platform.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said tape seal has one end that is clamped in a region of a lower edge of said interchangeable container.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising two slideways positioned in a vicinity of the edges of said work piece platform, wherein said tape seal is tensioned by means of said slideways.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said tape seal is a steel tape.