Nozzle and additive manufacturing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843408-B2
Application number	US-201816131391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2017
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nozzle comprising:
a nozzle unit that has an inner surface facing an outer side of an axis in a radial direction and an outer surface facing the inner surface with a space therebetween in the radial direction, and that is provided with a first passage that is distanced from the inner surface on an inner side in the radial direction, that extends along the axis, and through which an energy ray passes, and with a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass, wherein
the first passage includes a first open end that is positioned on an end of the first passage in a first direction along the axis, and that opens to outside of the first passage,
the second passage includes a second open end that is positioned on an end of the second passage in the first direction, that is more distanced from the axis than the first open end is, on an outer side in the radial direction, and that opens to outside of the second passage,
a first surface that is the inner surface includes a first edge that is positioned on one end of the first surface in the first direction,
a second surface that is the outer surface includes a second edge that is positioned on one end of the second surface in the first direction, and that is distanced from the first edge on a side toward the first direction, in a direction along the axis,
the nozzle unit ejects the fluid from the second open end so that the fluid flows along the second surface and departs from the nozzle unit with a flow separation at the second edge,
the nozzle unit includes a third passage that communicates with the first open end and the second open end, and through which the energy ray, the powder, and the fluid pass,
the third passage includes a third open end that is positioned on an end of the third passage in the first direction, and that opens to outside of the nozzle unit,
the third open end is smaller than the first open end, and
the nozzle unit ejects the fluid so that the fluid becomes converged at a point outside the nozzle unit.

2. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein
the nozzle unit has a first tubular portion including the inner surface and provided with the first passage, and a second tubular portion including the outer surface,
a wall thickness of the first tubular portion becomes smaller toward the first direction, and
a wall thickness of the second tubular portion becomes smaller toward the first direction.

3. The nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein
the first tubular portion has a first end on which the first open end opens,
the second tubular portion has a second end on which the third open end opens, and
a wall thickness of the second end of the second tubular portion is smaller than that of the first end of the first tubular portion.

4. The nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein the first tubular portion has a first end on which the first open end opens, a first inner circumferential surface that faces the inside of the first passage, and a second inner circumferential surface that is positioned between the first inner circumferential surface and the first end, and that extends in a direction approaching the inner surface toward the first direction.

5. The nozzle according to claim 2 , wherein a melting point of the second tubular portion is higher than a melting point of the first tubular portion.

6. The nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner surface extends in a second direction to approach the axis diagonally, and
the outer surface extends along the second direction.

7. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
the nozzle according to claim 1 ;
an optical device that includes an oscillator, the optical device emitting the energy ray with an oscillation of the oscillator and supplying the energy ray to the first passage; and
a feeder that feeds the powder and the fluid to the second passage, wherein
the nozzle enables the energy ray to melt or to sinter the powder ejected from the second open end.

Assignees

• Tech Res Association Future Additive Manufacturing
• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Machine Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ohno Hiroshi
• Tsuno Satoshi
• Sasaki Mitsuo
• Yamada Tomohiko
• Shiomi Yasutomo
• FUJIMAKI Shimpei

Classifications

• B28B1/001 Primary

  Rapid manufacturing of 3D objects by additive depositing, agglomerating or laminating of material (selective deposition modelling of metallic powder B22F10/00; rapid manufacturing of 3D objects in general and in particular of plastics B29C64/00) · CPC title

• B22F12/00

  Apparatus or devices specially adapted for additive manufacturing; Auxiliary means for additive manufacturing; Combinations of additive manufacturing apparatus or devices with other processing apparatus or devices · CPC title

• B22F10/10

  Formation of a green body · CPC title

• B22F10/364

  for post-heating, e.g. remelting · CPC title

• B22F12/90

  Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors · CPC title