Powder module for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10471701-B2
Application number	US-201715663373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Jul 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A powder module (1) for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising a powder chamber (2) limiting a powder room (3) that can be filled with powdered construction material, a carrying device (4) arranged in the powder room (3), limiting the powder room (3) at the bottom, movably supported relative to the powder chamber (2), and a position detection device (6), which is provided for the detection of the position of the carrying device (4), wherein the position detection device (6) is formed as or at least comprises a cable pull sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A powder module for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three- dimensional objects, the powder module comprising:
a powder chamber defining at least a side portion of a powder room, the powder room capable of being filled with powdered construction material,
a carrying device defining at least a bottom portion of the powder room, the carrying device movably supported relative to the powder chamber, and
a position detection device comprising a cable pull sensor, the position detection device configured to detect a position of the carrying device.

2. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the cable pull sensor comprises:
a housing element arranged in a fixed position relative to the powder chamber,
a pull-out element that can be or is coupled with the carrying device, and
a detection device provided for the detection of a pull-out length of the pull-out element.

3. The powder module according to claim 2 , comprising:
a connecting component arranged or formed at a section of a lower end of the powder module, the housing element being arranged or formed on the connecting component.

4. The powder module according to claim 3 , wherein at a first position the pull-out element extends at least partially exposed and/or at least partially surrounded by at least one sleeve-like portion or eye-like portion, and at a second position the pull-out element extends at least partially exposed between the housing element and the carrying device.

5. The powder module according to claim 3 , wherein the detection device comprises an electronic evaluation unit.

6. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying device comprises:
a base body; and
one or more supporting bodies arranged or formed on the base body.

7. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the position detection device comprises a plurality of cable pull sensors.

8. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying device is movably supported along a vertical movement axis.

9. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying device comprises a moving distance of from 800 mm to 1200 mm.

10. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the powder chamber comprises:
a powder chamber base body comprising a plurality of powder chamber base body segments, the plurality of powder chamber base body segments being attachable or attached to one another.

11. An apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, the apparatus having at least one powder module comprising:
a powder chamber defining at least a side portion of a powder room, the powder room capable of being filled with powdered construction material,
a carrying device defining at least a bottom portion of the powder room, the carrying device movably supported relative to the powder chamber, and
a position detection device comprising a cable pull sensor, the position detection device configured to detect a position of the carrying device.

12. The powder module according to claim 11 , wherein the cable pull sensor comprises:
a housing element arranged in a fixed position relative to the powder chamber,
a pull-out element that can be or is coupled with the carrying device, and
a detection device provided for the detection of a pull-out length of the pull-out element.

13. The powder module according to claim 12 , comprising:
a connecting component arranged or formed at a section of a lower end of the powder module, the housing element being arranged or formed on the connecting component.

14. The powder module according to claim 2 , comprising:
a connecting component arranged or formed at a section of a lower end of the powder chamber, the housing element being arranged or formed on the connecting component.

15. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the carrying device comprises a moving distance of from 950 mm to 1050 mm.

16. The powder module according to claim 1 , wherein the powder chamber comprises:
a powder chamber base body, the powder chamber base body defining at least a portion of the powder room, wherein the powder chamber base body comprises
a plurality of powder chamber base body segments, respective ones of the plurality of the plurality of powder chamber base body segments configured to be stacked and attached one on top of another.

17. A powder module for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three- dimensional objects, the powder module comprising:
a powder chamber defining at least a side portion of a powder room;
a carrying device defining at least a bottom portion of the powder room, the carrying device movably supported relative to the powder chamber; and
a cable pull sensor configured to detect a position of the carrying device, the cable pull sensor comprising:
a housing element arranged in a fixed position relative to the powder chamber;
a spooler disposed within the housing element;
a pull-out cable having a first portion coupled to the spooler and a second portion coupled to the carrying device, the spooler exhibiting rotational movement corresponding to movement of the carrying device augmenting a pull-out length of the pull-out cable;
and a detection device configured to determine rotational movement of the spooler.

18. The powder module according to claim 17 , comprising:
an evaluation unit configured to determine a position of the carrying device based at least in part on rotational movement of the spooler having been detected by the detection device.

19. The powder module according to claim 17 , wherein the housing element is located at a bottom portion of the powered chamber.

20. The powder module according to claim 17 , wherein the detection device is configured to determine rotational movement of the spooler (photo)electrically, optically, or potentiometrically.

Assignees

• Cl Schutzrechtsverwaltungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Herzog Frank
• Schödel Frank
• Bechmann Florian

Classifications

• B29C64/236

  for motion in a direction within the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B29C64/245

  Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) · CPC title

• B29C64/165

  using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/153

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title