Method and apparatus for additive manufacturing
First Claim
1. A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of applied powder, said method comprising the steps ofproviding at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article;
- providing a predetermined amount of powder at a build support, wherein an axis of rotation of said build support is provided in a horizontal direction;
directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support;
directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article;
rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation;
providing powder continuously throughout the forming of the three-dimensional article; and
sintering newly applied powder continuously in order to attach said powder on at least one of said build support or a previously manufactured layer of the three-dimensional article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of applied powder. Said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article, providing a predetermined amount of powder at a build support, directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support, directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article, rotating said build support around an axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation.
176 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of applied powder, said method comprising the steps of
providing at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article; -
providing a predetermined amount of powder at a build support, wherein an axis of rotation of said build support is provided in a horizontal direction; directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support; directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article; rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation; providing powder continuously throughout the forming of the three-dimensional article; and sintering newly applied powder continuously in order to attach said powder on at least one of said build support or a previously manufactured layer of the three-dimensional article. - View Dependent Claims (3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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2. A method for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of applied powder, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article; providing a predetermined amount of powder at a build support; directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support; directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article; and rotating said build support around an axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein at least one of; said powder is sintered using at least one electron beam and fused using at least said laser beam; said powder is sintered using at least one laser beam and fused using at least one electron beam; said powder is sintered using a first electron beam source and fused using at least a second electron beam source;
orsaid powder is sintered using a first laser beam source and fused using at least a second laser beam source. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 8)
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27. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of applied powder, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article; means for providing a predetermined amount of powder on a build support, wherein an axis of rotation of said build support is provided in a horizontal direction; means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support; means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article; and a motor for rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein powder is provided continuously throughout the forming of the three-dimensional article, and newly applied powder is sintered continuously in order to attach said powder on said build support or a previously manufactured layer of the three-dimensional article. - View Dependent Claims (29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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28. An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of applied powder, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one powder hopper comprising powder to be used for forming said three-dimensional article; means for providing a predetermined amount of powder on a build support; means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing at least a portion of said powder to sinter and causing at least a portion of said powder to bond to said build support; means for directing an energy beam over said build support causing said powder to fuse in selected locations according to a model to form a first portion of said three-dimensional article; and a motor for rotating said build support around said axis of rotation for creating said three-dimensional article, which three-dimensional article is build up layer by layer in a radial direction with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein at least one of; at least an electron beam is used for sintering said powder and at least a laser beam is used for fusing said powder; at least a laser beam is used for sintering said powder and at least an electron beam is used for fusing said powder; at least a first electron beam source is used for sintering said powder and at least a second electron beam source is used for fusing said powder;
orat least a first laser beam source is used for sintering said powder and at least a second laser beam source is used for fusing said powder. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification