Apparatus and method for rapid screening of material properties in a plurality of additively manufactured test specimens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10365192-B2
Application number	US-201715397520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2017
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus and method for rapid screening of material properties in a plurality of additively manufactured test specimens. The apparatus includes a build plate having the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens disposed on a first substantially planar surface. The plurality of additively manufactured test specimens are coupled to at least one actuator to one of individually or simultaneously translationally displace each of the test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens. A sensor is coupled to each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens. Load vs. displacement data may be used to monitor the progression of monotonic and/or cyclic tests of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for rapid screening of material properties in a plurality of additively manufactured test specimens, the apparatus comprising:
a build plate having a body, a first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface, the first planar surface defining a build plane;
the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens disposed on and adhered to the first planar surface;
at least one actuator, translationally displacing at least one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis to test material properties of at least one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens; and
a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a single actuator adapted to simultaneously, translationally displace the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate, to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the single actuator is coupled to a support plate having disposed thereon the plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors coupled to a pull-rod and a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is disposed in a servohydraulic test machine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a plurality of actuators adapted to individually, translationally displace the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate, to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of actuators comprises an actuator rod one of coupled to or in contact with, a first end portion to a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens and coupled at an opposed second end portion to a support plate having disposed thereon a plurality of sensors.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each actuator rod extends through an opening extending therethrough the first planar surface and the opposing second substantially planar surface of the build plate and into a cavity formed in a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens is coupled to the build plate in a manner that provides for a cross-sectional area “a” of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens disposed proximate the build plate, to be greater than a cross-sectional area “b” of a centralized portion of the additively manufactured test specimens, and wherein the cross-sectional area “a” is greater than cross-sectional area “b”.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens vary in geometry.

10. An apparatus for rapid screening of material properties in a plurality of additively manufactured test specimens, the apparatus comprising:
a build plate having a body, a first planar surface and an opposing planar second surface, the first planar surface defining a build plane;
the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens disposed on and adhered to the first planar surface, wherein the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens are formed through a selective laser melting process and wherein each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens is coupled to the build plate in a manner that provides for a cross-sectional area “a” of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens disposed proximate the build plate, to be greater than a cross-sectional area “b” of a centralized portion of the additively manufactured test specimens, and wherein the cross-sectional area “a” is greater than cross-sectional area “b”;
at least one actuator, each translationally displacing at least one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate to test material properties of at least one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens; and
a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a single actuator adapted to simultaneously, translationally displace the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate, to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the single actuator is coupled to a support plate and a plurality of sensors, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is coupled to a pull-rod and a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens, and wherein the apparatus is disposed in a servohydraulic test machine.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a plurality of actuators adapted to individually, translationally displace the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis “z”, and perpendicular to the build plane of the build plate, to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of actuators comprises an actuator rod one of coupled to, or in contact with, a first end portion to a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens and at an opposed second end portion to a support plate having disposed thereon a plurality of sensors.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each actuator rod extends through an opening extending therethrough the first planar surface and the opposing second planar surface of the build plate and into a cavity formed in a respective one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

16. A method for rapid screening of material properties in a plurality of additively manufactured test specimens, the method comprising:
providing a build plate having a body, a first planar surface and an opposing planar second surface, the first planar surface defining a build plane;
covering portions of the first planar surface of the build plate with an additively manufactured medium in successive layers to form the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens, wherein the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens are adhered to the first planar surface;
coupling at least one actuator to a support plate having disposed thereon a plurality of sensors coupled to each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens; and
actuating the at least one actuator to translationally displace at least one of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens along an axis to test material properties of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of additively manufacture test specimens are heat treated on the build plate to modify a microstructure of each of the plurality of additively manufactured test specimens prior to actuating the at le

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Deal Andrew David
• Hanlon Timothy
• Gupta Vipul Kumar
• Sampson Erica Elizabeth
• Gambone Jr Justin John
• Oppenheimer Scott Michael
• Dial Laura Cerully

Classifications

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• G01N3/10 Primary

  generated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure (G01N3/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N3/18

  Performing tests at high or low temperatures · CPC title

• G01N3/32

  by applying repeated or pulsating forces · CPC title