Chute for laser sintering systems
First Claim
1. A laser sintering system for fabricating three dimensional objects based upon design data and from a sinterable powder, the laser sintering system comprising:
- a build chamber;
a part bed defining an area where the sinterable powder is laser sintered, wherein the part bed is adjacent a surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon;
a hopper for supplying the sinterable powder to the build chamber of the laser sintering system;
a powder distribution device for distributing the sinterable powder in a layer on the part bed; and
a chute extending from the hopper toward the surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon, wherein the chute defines a slot, is between the powder distribution device and the part bed, and is movable by movement of the powder distribution device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided improved laser sintering systems that increase the powder density and reduce anomalies of the powder layers that are sintered, that measure the laser power within the build chamber for automatic calibration during a build process, that deposit powder into the build chamber through a chute to minimize dusting, and that scrubs the air and cools the radiant heaters with recirculated scrubbed air. The improvements enable the laser sintering systems to make parts that are of higher and more consistent quality, precision, and strength, while enabling the user of the laser sintering systems to reuse greater proportions of previously used but unsintered powder.
157 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A laser sintering system for fabricating three dimensional objects based upon design data and from a sinterable powder, the laser sintering system comprising:
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a build chamber; a part bed defining an area where the sinterable powder is laser sintered, wherein the part bed is adjacent a surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon; a hopper for supplying the sinterable powder to the build chamber of the laser sintering system; a powder distribution device for distributing the sinterable powder in a layer on the part bed; and a chute extending from the hopper toward the surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon, wherein the chute defines a slot, is between the powder distribution device and the part bed, and is movable by movement of the powder distribution device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A laser sintering system for fabricating three dimensional objects based upon design data and from a sinterable powder, the laser sintering system comprising:
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a build chamber; a part bed defining an area where the sinterable powder is laser sintered, wherein the part bed is adjacent a surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon; a hopper for supplying the sinterable powder to the build chamber of the laser sintering system; a powder distribution device for distributing the sinterable powder in a layer on the part bed; and a chute extending from the hopper toward the surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon, wherein the chute defines a slot, is between the powder distribution device and the part bed, and is rotatable.
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10. A laser sintering system for fabricating three dimensional objects based upon design data and from a sinterable powder, the laser sintering system comprising:
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a build chamber; a part bed defining an area where the sinterable powder is laser sintered, wherein the part bed is adjacent a surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon; a hopper for supplying the sinterable powder to the build chamber of the laser sintering system; a powder distribution device for distributing the sinterable powder in a layer on the part bed; and a chute extending from the hopper toward the surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon, wherein the chute defines a slot and is between the powder distribution device and the part bed, and wherein the powder distribution device includes a roller assembly with a portion adapted to move the chute when the powder distribution device moves.
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11. A laser sintering system for fabricating three dimensional objects based upon design data and from a sinterable powder, the laser sintering system comprising:
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a build chamber; a part bed defining an area where the sinterable powder is laser sintered, wherein the part bed is adjacent a surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon; a hopper for supplying the sinterable powder to the build chamber of the laser sintering system; a powder distribution device for distributing the sinterable powder in a layer on the part bed; and a chute extending from the hopper toward the surface the sinterable powder is deposited upon, wherein the chute is rotatable and is between the powder distribution device and the part bed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification