Manufacturing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,a lowerable build platform for supporting the object during manufacture, anda sealable chamber for controlling the atmosphere surrounding the object, and aplurality of gas transport devices, including a pump and/or one or more gas valveswherein the pump and/or one or more valves are housed in a chamber in which a controlled atmosphere can be maintaineda gas circuit for supplying a stream of gas to the build chamber, the gas circuit comprising the plurality of gas transport devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprises a lowerable build platform for supporting the object during manufacture and a sealable chamber for controlling the atmosphere around the object. The apparatus also has gas transport devices, such as pumps and valves. Substantially all of the gas transport devices are maintained within a controlled atmosphere.
86 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,
a lowerable build platform for supporting the object during manufacture, and a sealable chamber for controlling the atmosphere surrounding the object, and a plurality of gas transport devices, including a pump and/or one or more gas valves wherein the pump and/or one or more valves are housed in a chamber in which a controlled atmosphere can be maintained a gas circuit for supplying a stream of gas to the build chamber, the gas circuit comprising the plurality of gas transport devices.
-
14. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising;
-
a lowerable build platform comprising a build surface for supporting the object during manufacture; a sealable build chamber enclosing the build surface such that an atmosphere surrounding the object can be controlled, and a lower chamber enclosing a volume separate to a volume enclosed by the build chamber, wherein a lower portion of the build platform contacts an atmosphere in the lower chamber to allow atmosphere below the build platform to be controlled. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method of forming a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder using and additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising the steps of,
forming a controlled atmosphere surrounding both an upper and lower portion of build platform and consolidating portions of successive layers of powder supported on the build surface of the build platform in order to form the object, wherein the upper portion of the build platform contacts an atmosphere in a build chamber and the lower portion of the build platform contacts an atmosphere in a lower chamber, the lower chamber enclosing a volume separate to a volume enclosed by the build chamber.
-
28. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,
a lowerable build platform comprising a build surface for supporting the object during manufacture, a chamber enclosing the build surface such that an atmosphere in the chamber, an inlet for backfilling inert gas in the chamber, and a gas blanket circuit for forming a shroud of gas over the build surface, wherein the gas blanket circuit for forming the shroud of gas over the build surface has an inlet separate from the inlet for backfilling inert gas into the chamber.
-
30. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,
a lowerable build platform comprising a build surface for supporting the object during manufacture, and a chamber enclosing the build surface such that an atmosphere surrounding the object can be controlled, a system for forming a vacuum or reduced pressure atmosphere in the chamber, and an inlet for backfilling inert gas into the chamber, wherein the inlet for backfillinq inert gas into the chamber is located below the build platform.
-
31. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,
a build platform comprising a build surface for supporting the object during manufacture, the build platform lowerable within the bore of a build cylinder, a build chamber enclosing the build surface such that an atmosphere surrounding the object can be controlled, a system for forming a vacuum or reduced pressure atmosphere in the build chamber, and an inlet for backfilling inert gas into the chamber, wherein the build cylinder is removably mounted within the apparatus.
-
32. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layerwise consolidation of powder comprising,
a build platform comprising a build surface for supporting the object during manufacture, the build platform lowerable within a bore, a build chamber enclosing the build surface such that an atmosphere surrounding the object can be controlled, and a system for forming a vacuum or reduced pressure atmosphere within the build chamber, wherein the build platform is configured to sealably engage the bore to maintain an atmosphere within the build chamber.
-
35. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by layer wise consolidation of powder comprising:
-
a lowerable build a platform for supporting the object during manufacture, a plurality of gas transport devices including a pump and/or one or more gas valves wherein the pump and one or more valves are housed in a chamber in which a controlled atmosphere can be maintained, two sealable chambers, an upper chamber for controlling the atmosphere above the build platform and a lower chamber for controlling the atmosphere below the build platform, said gas transport devices being located in the lower chamber.
-
Specification