Slm Solutions Group Ag

Nikon Slm Solutions Ag

Slm Solutions Gmbh

Andreas Wiesner

Dieter Schwarze

Jan Wilkes

Christiane Thiel

Lukas Roesgen

Toni Adam Krol

Henner Schoeneborn

André Hermann

Bodo Haack

Daniel Brueck

Karsten Huebinger

Naveed Iqbal

Isabell Huebinger

Eduard Gieser

Arne Neef

Peter Koerner

Simon Steven

Felix Mutz

Kaj Merten Berggreen

Daniel Brück

Jonas Mersch

Simon Mueller

Frank Junker

Karsten Hübinger

Peter Körner

Henner SCHÖNEBORN

Stefan Pörtner

Isabell HÜBINGER

Dieter Dr Schwarze

Henner Dipl-Ing Schöneborn

The invention relates to a method for controlling an irradiation system (), the irradiation system () being used in a device () for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional workpieces and comprising at least three irradiation units (-), the method comprising the following steps: a) defining an irradiation region (-) for each of the irradiation units (-), the irradiation regions (-) each comprising a portion of an irradiation plane () which extends parallel to a carrier () of the device (), and the irradiation regions (-) being defined such that they overlap in a common overlap region (); b) irradiating a raw material powder layer on the carrier () to produce a workpiece layer; c) arranging a further raw material powder layer on the already jetted raw material powder layer to produce a further workpiece layer. d) The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Method and device for controlling an irradiation system for producing workpieces

The application relates to a device for producing three-dimensional workpieces, the device including: a structural surface designed to receive a molding compound; and an irradiation arrangement designed to selectively irradiate the molding compound on the structural surface with electromagnetic radiation, in order to produce a workpiece by means of generative layer construction, where the irradiation device comprises a plurality of irradiation units, the irradiation units being designed to irradiate an individual region of the structural surface respectively associated with the irradiation units, and where the beams emitted by the irradiation units respectively have a cross-sectional surface corresponding to between approx. 2% and approx. 170% of the surface of the respectively associated individual region. The application also relates to the use of such a device and to a method for producing three-dimensional workpieces by means of such a device.

Production of three-dimensional workpieces by means of a plurality of irradiation units

We describe a calibration method for calibrating one or more optical elements of an additive layer manufacturing apparatus useable for producing a three-dimensional workpiece, the method comprising: projecting, using the one or more optical elements, an optical pattern onto a material in order to prepare, from said material, solidified material layers using an additive layer manufacturing technique to form a test sample; determining a geometry of the test sample; comparing the determined geometry with a nominal geometry to generate calibration data; and calibrating the one or more optical elements using said calibration data.

Method and apparatus for calibrating optical elements

An apparatus including a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder. An irradiation device of the apparatus is configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder on the carrier in order to produce a work piece by an additive layer construction method, wherein a transmission element allows the transmission of the electromagnetic or particle radiation into the process chamber. The apparatus further includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet for supplying and discharging gas to and from the process chamber which are configured to generate a protective gas stream for protecting the transmission element from being contaminated by impurities present in the process chamber. The gas inlet includes a gas permeable, porous component forming a gas inlet area.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece with improved gas flow

In a method for controlling an irradiation system for use in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a first and a second irradiation area as well as an overlap area arranged between the first and the second irradiation area are defined on a surface of a carrier adapted to receive layers of a raw material powder to be irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation emitted by the irradiation system. A first irradiation unit of the irradiation system is assigned to the first irradiation area and the overlap area, and a second irradiation unit of the irradiation system is assigned to the second irradiation area and the overlap area. At least one of the first irradiation area, the second irradiation area and the overlap area is defined in dependence on a geometry of the three-dimensional work piece to be produced.

Method and device for controlling an irradiation system in dependence on a work piece geometry

A powder circuit () for use in an apparatus () for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation comprises a process chamber () accommodating a carrier () and a powder application device () for applying a raw material powder onto the carrier (), the process chamber () being provided with a powder inlet () for supplying raw material powder to the powder application device () and a powder outlet () for discharging excess raw material powder from the process chamber (). The powder circuit () further comprises a powder circulation line () connecting the powder outlet () of the process chamber () to the powder inlet () of the process chamber () and a conveying device () arranged in the powder circulation line () for conveying the raw material powder through the powder circulation line (). A sensor arrangement () is adapted to detect at least one of a parameter characteristic of a powder supply to the conveying device () and a parameter characteristic of a powder discharge from the conveying device (). A control unit () adapted to control operation of the conveying device () in dependence of at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device () and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device ().

Powder circuit for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces

An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece comprises a process chamber accommodating a carrier for receiving a raw material powder and an irradiation device for selectively irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier in order to produce the work piece from said raw material powder by an additive layer construction method, the irradiation device comprising at least one radiation source and at least one optical unit with a plurality of optical elements. A heat transfer arrangement is configured to transfer heat generated by a heat source to the at least one optical unit of the irradiation device. The apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control the heat transfer arrangement so as to adjust a temperature of the at least one optical unit of the irradiation device.

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece with process temperature control

An unpacking device for use in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the unpacking device comprises a holding device which is configured to hold a building chamber arrangement. The building chamber arrangement comprises a building chamber accommodating a carrier, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a three-dimensional work piece produced from a raw material powder by an additive layering process. An engagement unit of the unpacking device is configured to engage with the carrier of the building chamber arrangement. A moving mechanism is configured to cause a relative movement between the building chamber and the engagement unit with the carrier engaged therewith so as to allow a separation of the carrier with a three-dimensional work piece received thereon from the building chamber. Finally, the unpacking device comprises a raw material powder removal mechanism which is configured to cause at least one of a vibration and a rotation of the engagement unit with the carrier engaged therewith so as to remove residual raw material powder from the three-dimensional work piece received on the carrier.

Unpacking device allowing residual raw material powder removal

A method for producing three-dimensional work pieces comprises the steps of supplying gas to a process chamber accommodating a carrier and a powder application device, applying a layer of raw material powder onto the carrier by means of the powder application device, selectively irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier by means of an irradiation device, discharging gas containing particulate impurities from the process chamber, and controlling the operation of the irradiation device by means of a control unit such that a radiation beam emitted by at least one radiation source of the irradiation device is guided over the layer of raw material powder applied onto the carrier according to a radiation pattern containing a plurality of scan vectors.

Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces

A powder application apparatus is provided for use in a device for manufacturing work pieces by exposing powder layers to electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation. The powder application apparatus comprises a first powder storage provided in a first part of the powder application apparatus and configured to receive and store raw material powder. The powder application apparatus further comprises a first powder supply channel provided in a second part of the powder application apparatus and configured to discharge raw material powder from the first powder storage onto a carrier located below the apparatus. A first channel opening/closing element is configured to be moved between a first position to allow the discharge of raw material powder from the first powder storage onto the carrier, and a second position in which the discharge of raw material powder from the first powder storage onto the carrier is presented.

Powder application apparatus and method of operating a powder application apparatus

Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece. In a method for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a layer of raw material powder is applied onto a carrier () accommodated within a process chamber () by means of a powder application device (), wherein a plurality of irradiation areas () is defined on a surface of the carrier (). Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier () by means of an irradiation system (), the irradiation system () comprising a plurality of irradiation units (), each irradiation unit () being associated with one of the irradiation areas () defined on the surface of the carrier () and being configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the associated irradiation area (). Fresh gas is supplied to the process chamber () by means of a gas inlet system (), and gas containing particulate impurities is discharged from the process chamber () by means of a gas outlet system () such that a gas flow pattern is generated within the process chamber, the gas flow pattern being configured such that each irradiation area () defined on the surface of the carrier () is overflown with fresh gas which is supplied to the process chamber () via the gas inlet system () and which, after having overflown the irradiation area (), is discharged from the process chamber () as gas containing particulate impurities via the gas outlet system ().

Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece

A method for controlling an irradiation system () for use in an apparatus () for producing a three-dimensional work piece and comprising a plurality of irradiation units () a first and a second irradiation area () as well as an overlap area () arranged between the first and the second irradiation area () is defined on a surface of a carrier () adapted to receive a layer of raw material powder. A first irradiation area () of the irradiation system () is assigned to the first irradiation area () and the overlap area (), and a second irradiation unit () of the irradiation system () is assigned to the second irradiation area () and the overlap area (). If it is determined that a section (S) or a radiation pattern according to which radiation beams () emitted by the irradiation units () of the irradiation system () are guided over the layer of raw material powder received on the carrier () and/or a contour (C) of the three-dimensional work piece to be produced extend(s) into the first and the second irradiation area () defined on the surface of the carrier (), said section (S) of the radiation pattern and/or said contour (C), in a splitting region of the section (S) of the radiation pattern and/or the contour (C) which is located in the overlap area () arranged between the first and the second irradiation area (), is split into a first portion (S, C) and a second portion (S, C). The first portion (S, C) of said section (S) of the radiation pattern and/or said contour (C) is assigned to the first irradiation unit () and the second portion (S, C) of said section (S) of the radiation pattern and/or said contour (C) is assigned to the second irradiation unit ().

Method and device for controlling an irradiation system

An optical irradiation device is provided which includes a multimode optical fiber suitable for the central wavelength of a beam of light having a first beam profile which enters through an input connection for multimode guidance; a switching device, which can be switched between a first and second light conducting state and is configured to conduct the beam of light entering through the input connection in the first light conducting state to an output connection, such that the beam of light has the first beam profile on emerging from the output connection, and guides the beam of light entering the input connection to the output connection by the multimode optical fiber in the second light conducting state, so that the beam of light has a second beam profile different from the first beam profile on emerging from the output connection by the multimode guidance in the multimode optical fiber.

Optical irradiation device for a system for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating powder layers of a powdered raw material using laser radiation

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Luebeck, Germany

Andreas Wiesner