Methods for assembling a device for the layer-wise production of patterns

• US 9,757,831 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Original Assignee: Voxeljet AG
• Inventors: Ederer, Ingo, Hartmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie
• Application Number:
  US14/633,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• 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 method for assembling a device for the manufacturing patterns in layers. The method includes attaching a build module to a casing. The build module includes a spreader device and a dispensing device mounted above a mounting platform. The build module preferably includes a build platform mounted below the mounting platform. For example, the build module may be attached to the casing by screwing the mounting platform to the casing.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an apparatus comprising:

a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing includes positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing;

wherein the build module includes a mounting platform,

a spreader device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages; and

wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing device and the spreader device are both positioned above the mounting platform.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the build module includes a build platform which is vertically displaceable and the build module includes a vertical hoisting mechanism for moving the build platform.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the spreader device is configured to apply a particulate material.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for accessing a build platform to be located below the mounting platform.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method includes a step of attaching the mounting platform to the casing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the casing includes a door.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method includes screwing the mounting platform to the casing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method includes placing a cap over the build module.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the guide carriages for the dispensing device includes a pair of guide carriages fixed to opposite edges of the mounting platform.

12. The method of claim 11, 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.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes a step of wiring the dispensing device and the spreader device prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method includes a step of wiring a vertical hoisting mechanism prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the build module includes a build platform.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the build platform is vertically displaceable and the build module includes a vertical hoisting mechanism for moving the build platform, and the process includes a step of wiring the vertical hoisting mechanism prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material onto the build platform and the spreader device is configured to apply particulate material onto the build platform;

wherein the method includes a step of wiring the dispensing device and the spreader device prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the build platform is movable along a Z-direction.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for a build platform.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes removing the build module from an auxiliary frame and moving the build module to the casing.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes lifting the build module with crane splices.

22. A method for assembling an apparatus comprising:

a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing;

wherein the build module includes a mounting platform;

the build module includes a spreader device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages; and

wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers;

the dispensing device and the spreader device are both positioned above the mounting platform;

the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material;

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

the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for accessing the build platform to be located below the mounting platform;

the method includes a step of attaching the mounting platform to the casing; and

wherein the method includes removing the build module from an auxiliary frame, moving the build module to the casing, and positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing.

23. A method for assembling an apparatus

comprising:

a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing includes positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing; and

attaching the build module to the casing;

wherein the build module includes a mounting component, a spreader device affixed to the mounting component via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting component via guide carriages; and

wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the spreader device and/or the dispensing device is wired prior to the step of positioning the build module.