Gas flow in three-dimensional printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10661341-B2
Application number	US-201715803686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 7, 2016
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing processes, apparatuses, software, and systems for controlling and/or treating gas borne debris in an atmosphere of a 3D printer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for printing a three-dimensional object, the system comprising:
an energy source configured to generate an energy beam for transforming a pre-transformed material to a transformed material as at least a portion of the three-dimensional object;
a platform configured to support the three-dimensional object during printing; and
an enclosure configured to enclose at least a portion the platform, which enclosure comprises:
(i) a first wall;
(ii) at least one window configured to allow the energy beam to pass through;
(iii) a region recessed in the first wall, which region comprises the at least one window; and
(iv) a second wall that at least partially separates the region from the first wall, which at least one window and second wall at least partially define a volume of the region.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second wall is configured to facilitate at least partial shielding of an interior surface of the at least one window from a gas-borne material in the enclosure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one window is a plurality of windows.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a purging system configured to direct a flow of gas away from the at least one window, wherein the purging system is operatively coupled to the region.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the purging system comprises one or more channels that are operatively coupled to the second wall.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein windows of the plurality of windows are arranged in a non-parallel alignment relative to a direction of flow of gas above the platform.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one window is disposed in at least one window holder that comprises a purging system configured to direct a flow of gas in the region.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second wall at least partially encloses a volume of the region.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one window comprises a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of fused silica.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the material is substantially transparent to the energy beam with respect to at least one wavelength of the energy beam.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one window comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of sapphire, zinc selenide (ZnSe), magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ), and calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ).

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one window comprises a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 5 Watts per meter per degrees Celsius (W/(m*°C)) at 300 Kelvin.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein during printing of the three-dimensional object, the region comprises one or more sensors configured to detect one or more input parameters within the enclosure.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a gas-borne material.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor is operatively coupled to the at least one window and/or the region.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein during printing of the three-dimensional object, the enclosure is configured to maintain an internal atmosphere at a positive pressure.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the region comprises (i) a first sub-region and (ii) a second sub-region that is disposed further way from the first wall as compared to the first sub-region, wherein the at least one window is disposed in the second sub-region.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second sub-region comprises a purging system configured to direct a flow of gas away from the at least one window, wherein the purging system is operatively coupled to the region.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the purging system comprises one or more channels operatively coupled to the region.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one window is arranged in a non-parallel alignment relative to a direction of flow of gas above the platform.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one window is a plurality of windows, wherein the second sub-region comprises a plurality of window holders disposed in the second sub-region, which plurality of window holders are operatively coupled to the plurality of windows.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of windows are arranged in a non-parallel alignment with respect to the platform.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of window holders comprises a purging system configured to direct a flow of gas away from the at least one window operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of window holders, wherein the purging system is operatively coupled to the at least one of the plurality of window holders.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the purging system comprises one or more channels operatively coupled to the at least one of the plurality of window holders.

Assignees

• Velo3D Inc

Inventors

• Romano Richard Joseph
• Tralongo Joe
• Buller Benyamin
• Brudny Alexander

Classifications

• B29C64/268

  using laser beams; using electron beams [EB] · CPC title

• B01D46/0012

  In-line filters · CPC title

• B29C64/245

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

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B08B5/04

  Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action · CPC title