Device for the layer-wise production of patterns

• US 8,992,205 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Hartman, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan, Dah-Wei D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Binu
• Application Number:
  US12/681,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 425/375
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 11/02 Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface ; Controlling means thereforB05C7/00 takes precedence; Hand tools for such purposes B05C17/10; Control of the thickness of a coating by spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to the coated surfacecontrolling supply of liquid or other fluent material B05C11/10
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 13/00 Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles B05C1/0821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 15/00 Enclosures for apparatus; Booths spray booths B05B16/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 19/04 the particulate material being projected, poured or allowed to flow onto the surface of the work B05C19/02 takes precedence; involving spraying or electrostatic projection B05B B05C19/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/00 Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating joining mitred profiles B21D53/745; riveting B21J; uniting components by forging or pressing to form integral members B21K25/00; welding B23K; press-fitting, force-fitting, or shrinking in general B23P11/00, B21D19/00; by adhesives F16B11/00 ; Connections as such F16L, F16B; Tube expanders
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/00 Making other particular articles making wire fabrics B21F; making chains or chain parts B21L
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B28D 1/001 Cleaning bricks by milling B28D1/185
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/02 for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• 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 64/165 using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/188 involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/20 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/245 Platforms or substrates support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a device and method for manufacturing patterns in layers. The device includes an auxiliary frame, a vertically displaceable build platform, a dispensing device for applying a binder material onto the build platform, a mounting platform, a mounting platform, and a spreader device for applying particulate material. The mounting platform preferably is connected to the auxiliary frame and includes a cut-out for the build platform. The dispensing device, the spreader device, and the build platform are connected to the mounting platform, so that the dispensing device, the spreader device and the build platform are cable of being mounted, adjusted, and wired to the mounting platform while located outside the auxiliary frame.

Claims

1. A device for manufacturing patterns in layers comprising:

a) an auxiliary frame;

b) a vertically displaceable build platform,

c) a dispensing device configured to apply a binder material onto the build platform,

d) a mounting platform, and

e) a spreader device configured to apply particulate material onto the build platform;

wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for the build platform and is connected to the auxiliary frame and

wherein the dispensing device and the spreader device are affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and are both positioned entirely above the mounting platform, and the build platform is mounted below the mounting platform, and the device includes an intermediate plate located below the build platform, the build platform is moved by a vertical hoisting mechanism that is orthogonally attached to the mounting platform, and the vertical hoisting mechanism is mounted to the intermediate plate.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide carriages includes a pair of guide carriages fixed to opposite edges of the mounting platform.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting platform includes a mounting plate, and the dispensing device, the spreader device, or both are affixed to the mounting plate via the pair of guide carriages, and the construction field cut-out provides an opening for a construction field of the build platform during the manufacturing of patterns in layers.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing device is mounted on a carriage that is mounted to the pair of guide carriages.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing device is mounted on a carriage that travels along the pair of guide carriages in a direction along a Y-axis, and the dispensing device travels along the carriage in a direction along an X-axis;

wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the spreader device is mounted onto the pair of guide carriages.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein a feeder mechanism configured to refill the spreader device is mounted to the mounting platform.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a cleaning station and a capping station are located in the mounting platform.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the capping station is located in the mounting platform next to the cleaning station so that the capping station closes the dispensing device during a standstill preventing drying or soiling of the dispensing device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform is a plane plate.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein a construction cylinder is connected to the mounting platform, the construction cylinders below the mounting platform, and the build platform is in the construction cylinder so that the build platform is moved in a direction of the construction cylinder and so that the build platform does not slip out of the construction cylinder in a lowered position.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the build platform encompasses a seal between the construction cylinder and the build platform so that applied particulate material is prevented from flowing from the build platform.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the build platform encompasses a seal so that applied particulate material is prevented from flowing from the build platform.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein an exchangeable container including the vertically displaceable build platform is connected to an underside of the mounting platform via a guide and the device includes a catch for holding the exchangeable container in place during use.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the construction cylinder is an exchangeable container, the device includes guide elements under and attached to the mounting plate for introducing the exchangeable container.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device includes a covered chamber below the mounting platform, wherein the covered chamber surrounds the exchangeable container.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the covered chamber includes doors for introducing the exchangeable container below the mounting platform.

18. A device for manufacturing patterns in layers comprising:

a) an auxiliary frame;

b) vertically displaceable build platform,

c) a dispensing device configured to apply a binder material onto the build platform,

d) a mounting platform, and

e) a spreader device configured to apply particulate material onto the build platform;

wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for the build platform and is connected to the auxiliary frame;

the dispensing device and the spreader device are affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and are both positioned entirely above the mounting platform, and the build platform is mounted below the mounting platform;

an exchangeable container including the vertically displaceable build platform is connected to an underside of the mounting platform via a guide and the device includes a catch for holding the exchangeable container in place during use;

the exchangeable container is located above an intermediate platform that is connected to the mounting platform via a casing, and

a plurality of threaded spindles extend between the intermediate platform and the build platform so that the plurality of threaded spindles move the build platform.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein

the guide carriages includes a pair of guide carriages fixed to opposite edges of the mounting platform,

the mounting platform includes a mounting plate, the dispensing device and the spreader device are both affixed to the mounting plate via the pair of guide carriages, and the construction field cut-out provides an opening for a construction field of the build platform during the manufacturing of patterns in layers, and

a feeder mechanism configured to refill the spreader device is mounted to the mounting platform.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein a cleaning station and a capping station are located in the mounting platform.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the device includes an intermediate platform located below the build platform, the build platform is moved by a vertical hoisting mechanism that is orthogonally attached to the mounting platform, and the vertical hoisting mechanism is mounted to the intermediate platform.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the vertical hoisting mechanism includes a plurality of threaded spindles.