Additive manufacturing heating control systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875116-B2
Application number	US-201414330845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part, and a controller configured to control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
an additive manufacturing tool comprising a mixer configured to receive and process at least one metallic anchoring material from a feeder to form one or more electrodes;
a power source configured to selectively provide DC or AC power output to the electrode in a controlled waveform to melt the electrode into a plurality of droplets to build up a part;
a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part at least by selectively applying heat to the part to control a cooling rate of the part; and
a controller comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to control the feeder, the mixer, the power source, and the temperature control device, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of composition, formation, and individual application of each droplet of the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device, such that the plurality of droplets builds up the part.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising a substrate coupled to the temperature control device and to the part, wherein the substrate comprises a material compatible with the at least one metallic anchoring material, and the additive manufacturing tool is configured to supply the plurality of droplets to the substrate to form the part.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the temperature control device is configured to preheat the substrate prior to formation of the part.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a robotic system to move the additive manufacturing tool relative to the part, and the controller is configured to control a deposition location of each droplet of the plurality of droplets, and the deposition location comprises a location on the part where the respective droplet is deposited.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises an inductive coil, a resistance heater, or any combination thereof, and the temperature control device is configured to heat the part.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises at least one of a cooling coil or a fan, and the temperature control device is configured to cool the part.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a heating element and a cooling element.

8. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
one or more feeders configured to supply a plurality of metallic anchoring materials to an additive manufacturing tool that comprises a mixer configured to receive and process the plurality of metallic anchoring material from a feeder to form an electrode;
a power source configured to selectively provide DC or AC power output to the electrode in a controlled waveform to melt the electrode into a plurality of droplets to build up a part with a plurality of micro-deposits, wherein the additive manufacturing tool is configured to form each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits from a respective droplet, and the respective droplet comprises one or more metallic anchoring materials of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials;
a temperature control device comprising a heating element, wherein the temperature control device is configured to heat the part and control a cooling rate of the part at least by selectively applying heat to the part; and
a controller comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to control the feeder, the mixer, the power source, and the temperature control device, composition of the respective droplet of each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits, and an individual application of the respective droplet of each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits with the additive manufacturing tool, such that the plurality of micro-deposits builds up the part.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a welding torch, and the welding torch is configured to form the respective droplets by applying a controlled waveform welding power output to the one or more metallic anchoring materials of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a cooling element, and the controller is configured to control the temperature control device to control a cooling rate of the part.

11. The system of claim 8 , comprising a substrate coupled to the temperature control device and to the part, wherein the additive manufacturing tool is configured to build up the part on the substrate, and the temperature control device is configured to heat the part via heating the substrate.

12. The system of claim 11 , comprising a sensor coupled to the substrate and configured to provide temperature feedback to the controller.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the controller to select one or more wires based on a location of deposition of a droplet, the one or more wires comprising one or more of a plurality of metallic anchoring materials, the plurality of metallic anchoring materials comprising the at least one metallic anchoring material.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing tool comprises a welding torch, and the welding torch is configured to form the respective droplets by applying a controlled waveform welding power output to the one or more metallic anchoring materials of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the controlled waveform welding power output comprises at least one of a controlled short circuit waveform or a regulated metal deposition waveform.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controlled waveform welding power output comprises at least one of a controlled short circuit waveform or a regulated metal deposition waveform.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of metallic anchoring materials comprising respective wires, each of the wires composed of one or more of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials, and the executable instructions, when executed, cause the controller to control the composition of each micro-deposit by selecting one or more of the wires based on a location of the micro-deposit and controlling the one or more feeders based on the selected wires.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Albrecht Bruce Patrick
• Hsu Christopher

Classifications

• Y02P10/25

  Process efficiency · CPC title

• B22F12/90

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

• B22F12/55

  Two or more means for feeding material · CPC title

• B22F12/17

  to heat the build chamber or platform · CPC title

• B22F10/50

  Treatment of workpieces or articles during build-up, e.g. treatments applied to fused layers during build-up · CPC title