3d Systems, Inc.

Layerwise Nv

Brawley Valkenborgs

Jonas Van Vaerenbergh

Sam Coeck

Nachiketa Ray

Jan Plas

Luc Cuyt

Rudy Raeymaekers

Jozef Verheyen

Filips Schillebeeckx

Peter Geboes

Jan Van Rompay

Jos Verheyen

Van Rompay Jan

A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a build chamber, an overflow chamber adjacent to the build chamber, a motorized build plate, a powder coater including a vibration generator, a lateral movement mechanism coupled to the powder coater, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a process to remove accumulated powder from surfaces of the powder coater according to the steps: (1) operate the lateral movement mechanism to position the powder coater over a location outside of the build chamber; (2) operate the vibration generator to shake the accumulated powder into the location outside of the build chamber. The location outside of the build chamber can be defined by the overflow chamber.

Three-dimensional printing system with self-maintaining powder distribution subsystem

A manufacturing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a housing, a sensor within the housing, a coater, a removable powder module (RPM) with a platen, a laser system, and a controller. A method of operating the manufacturing system includes installing the RPM into the housing, forming pillars onto the platen, positioning the top surfaces of the pillars a distance D below a build plane, installing a calibration plate onto the top surfaces of the pillars, and then calibrating the laser system using the sensor. The sensor can include one or more of an optical sensor and an acoustic sensor.

Calibration method for powder fusion system

The invention relates to a system for the layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product starting from a powder, in particular a metal powder. More specifically, the invention relates to a system in which selective laser melting is applied to manufacture a product. Here, successive powder layers are covered by an energy beam, such as a laser beam, in order to melt the powder in this layer in whole or in part and subsequently to solidify or sinter it and to create successive layers of the product in this way.

Apparatus with a module for the layered manufacture of a product

A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a chassis, a door, and a plurality of latches. The chassis defines an internal process chamber and a vertical opening for accessing the internal process chamber. A peripheral seal surrounds the vertical opening. The plurality of latches are arranged around the peripheral seal. The latches individually include a hook. The vertical door is mounted to the chassis by a linkage. The door includes a plurality of laterally extending pins individually corresponding to the latches. The pins have locations along the door to be individually engaged by the latches when the door is positioned in the closed position. The latches are individually configured to rotate the hooks around a second lateral axis (Y) when the door is positioned in the closed position with the door closing over the opening to secure the door with respect to a first lateral axis (X).

Three-dimensional printing system with improved process chamber

An apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product includes a build chamber having a window, a build platform within the build chamber, a calibration device that is physically separated from the build chamber, an optical system including a beam source and a scanning apparatus, and a mobile base. The mobile base is configured to position the scanning apparatus at two spaced part positions including a () production position and a () calibration position. At the production position the scanning apparatus is configured to receive an energy beam from the beam source and to reflect and scan the energy beam through the window and to a build surface over the build platform to create a layer of the three-dimensional product. At the calibration position the scanning apparatus is configured to reflect the energy beam to the calibration device but not through the window.

Apparatus for additive manufacturing of a product with a calibration device and method for calibration of an apparatus of this kind

A device is provided for cleaning and/or replacement of a laser window of a process chamber, enclosed by an outer wall, containing a modified atmosphere, in particular a process chamber for layered printing of a 3D object by a technique such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), where this device features an opening in the outer wall that is fitted with the laser window and where this laser window allows a laser beam from a laser source located outside of the process chamber into the process chamber, where an external sealing ring is provided that extends between the outer wall and this laser window. A method is also provided for cleaning and/or replacement of the laser window in the opening of the outer wall of the enclosed process chamber.

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Kessel-lo, Belgium

Brawley Valkenborgs