Renishaw Plc

Jason Joannou

Christopher John Sutcliffe

Ramkumar Revanur

Jack Dunkley

This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building a part by selectively consolidating flowable material in a layer-by-layer process comprising a build chamber () for building the part, a module () for providing a focussed energy beam for consolidating flowable material in the build chamber, a gas flow circuit for generating a gas flow through the build chamber (). At least one filter assembly () may be arranged in the gas flow circuit, the or each filter assembly () having associated therewith a valve (V-, V-) operable to seal the gas circuit upstream from the filter assembly () and a valve (V-, V-) operable to seal the gas flow circuit downstream of the filter assembly (), the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-, E-) of the filter assembly () to be changed whilst maintaining a controlled atmosphere in the build chamber (). The apparatus may further comprise a purging device () configured to purge air from the or each filter assembly () when the valves (V-, V-; V-, V-) associated with that filter assembly () have sealed the filter assembly () from the gas flow. Alternatively or additionally, a controller () may be arranged to control the valves (V-, V-; V-, V-) associated with the or each filter assembly () such that the filter assemblies () are closed off to gas flow from the build chamber () during a period in which the inert gas atmosphere in the build chamber () is compromised as a result of opening the door to the build chamber (). The apparatus may comprise a pair of filter assemblies () arranged in parallel within the gas flow circuit, the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-, E-) of the each filter assembly () to be changed during a build by allowing the filter element (E-, E-) of one filter assembly () to be changed whilst the filter element (E-, E-) of the other filter assembly () is connected to filter particulates from the gas flow. A monitoring device (I-, I-) may be provided for detecting a property associated with the gas flow and a controller () arranged to control the valves to switch the filter assembly () connected in line with the gas flow based upon signals from the monitoring device (I-, I-).

Growing community of inventors

Stafford, United Kingdom

Jason Joannou