Device for supplying powder for a device for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer

• US 6,672,343 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
• Original Assignee: EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
• Inventors: Graf, Berhard-Franz, Sagmeister, Ulli Christian, Perret, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVORE, PETER T
• Application Number:
  US10/019,748
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 141/12, 141/73, 141/80, 141/95, 141/125, 141/250, 141/280, 264/125, 264/308, 156/273.3, 156/273.5, 156/275.5, 156/379.8
• US Class Current: 141/95
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/28 Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 10/73 of powder
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/37 Rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/50 Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/67 Blades
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 12/90 Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/004 Filling molds with powder feeding material to presses in general B30B15/302
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/12 Spreading-out the material on a substrate , e.g. on the surface of a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/36 Feeding the material on to the mould, core or other substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering powder onto a plane surface (1) of a device for creating a three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer fashion, in particular of a laser sintering machine, is provided. It comprises a covering means (3) which can be moved back and forth in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction by means of a drive between a lateral first position and a second position located on the opposite side. In at least one of the positions it can be filled with powder. In order to simplify the apparatus and improve its operation, the covering means (3) comprises a slit (6) extending across the entire width and open at its top and its bottom as well as smoothening elements (7, 8) at the ends opposite of the surface. A store container (9) is provided above the covering means (3), the volume of said store container at each location across the entire width being at least equal to the volume of the slit cavity located underneath.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying powder onto a plane surface of a device for creating a three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer fashion, the apparatus comprising:

a covering means extending across said surface in a first direction of said surface, which covering means can be moved back and forth in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction between a first lateral end position and a second lateral end position and which can be filled with powder from above in at least one of the said positions, wherein said covering means comprises a cavity having a width extending across said surface, the cavity being open at its top and its bottom; and

a store container;

wherein said store container delivers to said covering means material to be used for the covering when the covering means is in said one lateral end position, said cavity thus being filled to a predetermined level across its entire width; and

wherein, at each location across its entire width, the volume of said store container is equal to or greater than the volume of the adjacent cavity.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said store container is provided above said covering means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sliding shutter or a flap, which is provided at the bottom side of the store container, which is closed in a first position and which can be opened by engagement with the covering means when said covering means is moved underneath said store container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a scraper at the bottom side of said store container for scraping off material extending beyond said predetermined level.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said store container further comprises a pivoting shutter at a bottom side, said pivoting shutter being structured and arranged to open when said covering means is in a filling position.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said cavity is structured and arranged as a slit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said covering means further comprises a smoothening element at an end opposing said surface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a conveyor positioned underneath said store container, said conveyor being arranged such that a filling position of said covering means is at a location underneath one of the ends of said conveyor.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said conveyor is movable during an adjustable period in order to achieve a predetermined filling level.

10. The apparatus according to claims 9, further comprising a sensor for determining whether the predetermined filling level has been reached.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said device for creating a three-dimensional part in a layer-by-layer fashion is a laser sintering machine.

12. A laser sintering machine comprising an apparatus for supplying powder onto a plane surface, said apparatus comprising:

a covering means extending across said surface in a first direction of said surface, which covering means can be moved back and forth in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction between a first lateral end position and a second lateral end position and which can be filled with powder from above in at least one of the said positions, wherein said covering means comprises a cavity having a width extending across said surface, the cavity being open at its top and its bottom; and

a store container;

wherein said store container delivers to said covering means material to be used for the covering when the covering means is in said one lateral end position, said cavity thus being filled to a predetermined level across its entire width; and

wherein, at each location across its entire width, the volume of said store container is equal to or greater than the volume of the adjacent cavity.

13. The laser sintering machine according to claim 12, wherein said store container is provided above said covering means;

the apparatus further comprising;

a sliding shutter or a flap, which is provided at the bottom side of the store container, which is closed in a first position and which can be opened by engagement with the covering means when said covering means is moved underneath said store container; and

a scraper at the bottom side of said store container for scraping off material extending beyond said predetermined level.

14. The laser sintering machine according to claim 12, wherein said store container further comprises a pivoting shutter at a bottom side, said pivoting shutter being structured and arranged to open when said covering means is in a filling position.

15. The laser sintering machine according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a conveyor positioned underneath said store container, said conveyor being arranged such that a filling position of said covering means is at a location underneath one of the ends of said conveyor.

16. The laser sintering machine according to claim 15, wherein said conveyor is movable during an adjustable period in order to achieve a predetermined filling level.

17. The laser sintering machine according to claim 16, further comprising a sensor for determining whether the predetermined filling level has been reached.