3d Systems, Inc.

Layerwise Nv

Jonas Van Vaerenbergh

Brawley Valkenborgs

Sam Coeck

Luc Cuyt

Nachiketa Ray

Jozef Verheyen

Peter Mercelis

Gokula Krishna Muralidharan

Rudy Raeymaekers

Filips Schillebeeckx

Wilfried Van Der Perre

Jan Van Rompay

Kurt Verelst

Karel Lietaert

Anh Dung Nguyen

Jos Verheyen

Van Rompay Jan

A three-dimensional (3D) printing system includes a print engine and a controller. The print engine includes a motorized build platform, a coating apparatus, and a beam forming unit. The controller is configured to perform the following steps: (a) receiving a virtual 3D body, (b) processing the 3D body to define a plurality of N slices, the N slices individually representing intersections of the 3D body with the slice, (c) processing the N slices to represent solid portions of the 3D body with vectors, the vectors defining contours and hatching patterns, the vectors individually bounded by two endpoints, (d) for the individual slices, analyzing a scan speed error for one or more of the plurality of vectors, and (e) for the individual slices, moving some of the endpoints when the scan speed error exceeds a predetermined threshold to provide a speed corrected slice.

Three dimensional printing system with speed optimized vector processing system

A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes: (1) Loading a metal platen into a build chamber, the metal platen defines an upper surface; (2) Performing concurrent processes including operating a movement mechanism to vertically translate the platen, operating a laser system to impinge a radiation beam upon the upper surface of the platen, and receiving a signal from an acoustic sensor that is positioned within the build chamber; (3) Analyzing the signal including determining a height of optimal laser convergence for the platen; and (4) Based upon the analysis, adjusting the laser convergence height to a build plane height.

Three-dimensional printing system with laser convergence calibration based upon acoustic analysis

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.

Method and device for cleaning and/or replacement of a laser window of a process chamber

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing at least one thin-walled structure (), whereby this structure is built layer by layer by applying successive powder layers extending substantially horizontally and by moving an energy beam over each of these powder layers according to a predetermined pattern so as to make said powder melt and subsequently make it solidify or sinter, such that successive layers connected to each other of said thin-walled structure () are formed which extend according to a horizontal cross section of this thin-walled structure (). According to the method a support structure () is built in layers together with said thin-walled structures () and connected to it such that a rigid unit () is manufactured, whereby after building this unit () layer by layer, at least the thin-walled structures () are annealed in order to at least partly eliminate any stresses present, and whereby both structures are separated from each other.

Method for manufacturing thin-walled structures in layers

A device is provided for layered manufacture of at least a three-dimensional product by an additive manufacturing technique based on a powder. The invention therefore relates to a device for the layered manufacturer of a product based on a powder, in particular a metal powder. This device is fitted with a build chamber with a vertically movable build platform on which said product is manufactured and contains a powder dispenser for application of the successive powder layers on the build platform in a horizontal build surface. The powder dispenser can be moved back and forth over the build surface along a horizontal dispensing direction in order to apply said powder layers. Moreover, the device contains a hopper that must contain said powder in order to supply powder to the powder dispenser. This hopper has a bottom with a dosing opening that lets out into the build chamber and that works in combination with a dosing valve. More specifically, the dosing valve enables a measured quantity of powder to flow out of the hopper.

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Nieuwkerken-Waas, Belgium

Jonas Van Vaerenbergh