Arcam Ab

General Electric Company

Mydata Automation Ab

Kristofer Karlsson

Björn Löfving

Carlos H Bonilla

Martin Dahlberg

Robert Axelsson

Andreas Larsson

Christoffer Sjögren

Lars Löwgren

Safdar Ali

Björn LÖFVING

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a process chamber housing enclosing a process chamber. The process chamber housing includes a first separable process chamber housing portion and a second separable process chamber housing portion. The first separable process chamber housing portion includes a top of the process chamber housing and the second separable process chamber housing portion includes a bottom of the process chamber housing. The first separable process chamber housing portion meets the second separable process chamber housing portion at a junction that extends about a periphery of the process chamber housing portion in a closed configuration. The process chamber housing has an open configuration where the first separable process housing portion and the second separable process housing portion are separated to provide an access spacing between the first separable housing portion and the second separable housing portion.

Additive manufacturing apparatuses with separable process chamber housing portions and methods of use

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together with an electron beam from an electron beam source so as to form the article according to a computer model thereof. The apparatus includes a chamber a chamber having a first section and a second section openly connected to each other. The first section is configured to receive the individual layers of powder material. The second section comprising an electron beam source, an electromagnetic focus coil having an axially extending, and a reflector coil. The electron beam source is configured to emit an electron beam to fuse the individual layers of powder material. The reflector coil is arranged radially outside the electromagnetic focus coil. The direction of windings of the reflector coil is opposite a direction of windings of the electromagnetic focus coil.

Apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional article

A system () includes a build area positioned along a working surface (), an arcuate supply receptacle () defining one or more supply receptacle sidewalls () and an upwardly-facing receptacle opening () spaced apart from the build area along the working surface, an arcuate piston positioned at least partially within the arcuate supply receptacle (), where the arcuate piston (), the upwardly-facing receptacle opening, and the one or more supply receptacle sidewalls () at least partially define an interior space (), and the arcuate piston is positionable between an extended position, in which the interior space has an extended volume, and a retracted position, in which the interior space has a retracted volume that is greater than the extended volume.

Material supply system and method for using the same

Provided is an additive manufacturing apparatus for additive manufacturing of three dimensional objects by selectively solidifying a powder material layer by layer in a process chamber, wherein the apparatus comprises a powder distributor movable across a build area of a build tank for applying a layer of powder material thereon and a solidification device for selectively solidifying the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross section of the object to be manufactured and a control unit adapted to repeat the steps of applying and selectively solidifying until the object is completed, wherein at least one support structure for supporting the powder distributor and/or a bellows assembly associated there-with is connectable to a cooling/heating media supply outside the process chamber and the support structure and/or the bellows assembly is adapted for transporting the cooling/heating media to and from the powder distributor. Certain embodiments further or alternatively include a bellows assembly connected or connectable to a cooling/heating media supply positioned outside the process chamber, the bellows assembly being configured for transporting the cooling/heating media to and from the powder distributor.

Method and device for additive manufacturing

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a powder layer in additive manufacturing are disclosed. A method of monitoring a powder layer includes receiving image data corresponding the powder layer supported by a powder bed within a build chamber from imaging devices, determining leading and trailing regions of interest located adjacent to a leading end and a trailing end of the moving powder distributor, respectively, the leading and trailing regions of interest moving according to movement of the moving powder distributor, selecting at least one point located in the leading region of interest from the image data, determining first characteristics of the point, when the point is located within the trailing region of interest, determining second characteristics of the point, and comparing the first characteristics to the second characteristics.

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a powder layer in additive manufacturing processes

Described is an additive manufacturing apparatus for additive manufacturing of three dimensional objects, said apparatus comprises a powder distribution unit movable across a build area for applying a layer of powder material thereon and a solidification device for selectively solidifying the applied powder layer at positions corresponding to a cross section of the object to be manufactured. Said powder distribution unit comprises at least a first and a second powder distributors essentially in parallel with each other and extending in a first direction, said first and second powder distributors are arranged to be adjustably spaced apart in a second direction transversely to said first direction which second direction is essentially in parallel with the direction of movement of said powder distribution unit over said build area.

Method and device for distributing powder material

Apparatus for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, said apparatus comprising: a working area onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; a powder distribution member, a pivoted powder pushing device for bringing a portion of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area, said distribution member further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area, wherein a first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device is movable under said distribution member. An associated method and computer program product are also provided.

Method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional article

An additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of layers of a powder material, which parts correspond to successive cross-sections of the three-dimensional article includes a process chamber housing enclosing a process chamber. A rotatable support conveyor is rotatably connected to a bottom of the process chamber housing by a rotatable shaft. The rotatable support conveyor includes an opening that extends therethrough for dispensing powder material from a powder storage vessel located on the rotatable support conveyor and a powder distributor that includes a rake portion that is located between the rotatable support conveyor and the bottom of the process chamber housing.

Additive manufacturing apparatuses with powder distributors and methods of use

The invention relates to a build chamber () for an additive manufacturing apparatus () for forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer from a powder. The build chamber () comprising a build chamber base body () and the build chamber base body () is formed by at least two segments () telescopically coupled together. Associated with the telescopically coupled segments are one or more bellows assemblies, further coupled to support structure configured to raise and/or lower the build table. An associated method is also provided.

Compact build tank for an additive manufacturing apparatus

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring a powder layer in additive manufacturing are disclosed. A method includes receiving leading and trailing image data from an image signal processor that is optically coupled to a plurality of leading and trailing optical fibers arranged on a moving powder distributor, the leading and trailing image data corresponding to images of the powder layer, selecting at least one point on the powder bed that is located within a leading region of interest, determining first characteristics of the point, when the point is located within a trailing region of interest due to movement of the moving powder distributor, determining second characteristics of the point, and comparing the first characteristics to the second characteristics to monitor the powder layer distributed by the moving powder distributor.

Described is a build chamber for an additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer from a powder. The build chamber comprises a build chamber base body and said build chamber base body is formed by at least two segments telescopically coupled together.

Build tank for an additive manufacturing apparatus

Described is a build chamber that comprises a telescopic build tank operatively connected at opposing ends to a powder table and a build table, the telescopic build tank comprising at least two segments telescopically coupled relative to one another, each of the at least two segments comprising a set of engagement grooves located on an interior surface of the at least two segments and a set of engagement pins located on an exterior surface of the at least two segments. The set of engagement pins is configured to engage with and travel along a corresponding set of engagement grooves of another of the at least two segments, and each engagement groove comprises a first axially extending channel positioned along a single axis and having at least one closed end, the at least one closed end being configured to impede separation of the at least two segments relative to one another.

A pivoted powder pushing device is provided, comprising a first portion and a contact member, wherein: the contact member is configured to operatively engage a grip arm of the distribution member when the distribution member is positioned at least in part above the base surface, and the first portion is moved via the engagement of the grip arm and the contact member in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member, such that the first portion of said pivoted powder pushing device passes under said distribution member. An associated apparatus, method, and computer program product are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Kungsbacka, Sweden

Kristofer Karlsson