Additive manufacturing machine comprising a device for the distribution of powder onto a mobile surface using vibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345083-B2
Application number	US-201916977134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2019
Priority date	Mar 1, 2018
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

An additive manufacturing machine (10) comprises at least one movable powder reception surface (28) capable of being displaced in proximity to a manufacturing zone (20), a powder spreading device (30), and a device (32) for distributing powder on the movable reception surface. The powder distribution device comprises a buffer tank (38) linked to a powder supply (40) and a distribution duct (42) linking the buffer tank to a powder distribution point (P1) situated above the movable reception surface, and the distribution duct (42) is mounted on a vibrating device making it possible to vibrate the distribution duct so as to generate a continuous flow of powder in the distribution duct and from the buffer tank to the powder distribution point.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An additive manufacturing machine, based on powder bed deposition, comprising:
a manufacturing enclosure;
at least one heat or energy source used to selectively melt a layer of additive manufacturing powder deposited inside the manufacturing enclosure;
at least one movable powder reception surface capable of being displaced in proximity to a manufacturing zone situated inside the manufacturing enclosure;
a powder spreading device configured to spread the powder from the at least one movable powder reception surface to the manufacturing zone; and
a powder distribution device for distributing powder on the movable reception surface,
wherein the powder distribution device comprises a buffer tank linked to a powder supply and a distribution duct linking the buffer tank to a powder distribution point situated above the movable reception surface, and
wherein the distribution duct is mounted on a vibrating device configured to vibrate the distribution duct so as to generate a continuous flow of powder in the distribution duct and from the buffer tank to the powder distribution point.

2. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer tank is rigidly fixed to the distribution duct.

3. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer tank is linked to the powder supply by a flexible duct.

4. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the powder supply comprises reception means from a main tank.

5. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 3 , wherein a diaphragm control valve is inserted between the powder supply and the flexible duct.

6. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrating device and the distribution duct are mounted on a support with adjustable inclination.

7. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the powder distribution device comprises a flow rate regulator inside the distribution duct.

8. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the flow rate regulator takes the form of a shutter movably mounted to rotate inside the distribution duct.

9. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the buffer tank has a section greater than a section of the distribution duct.

10. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 9 , wherein a junction section between the buffer tank and the distribution duct has an oblong form.

11. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the powder distribution device comprises a powder detector placed inside the distribution duct.

12. The additive manufacturing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the distribution duct passes through a wall of the manufacturing enclosure, the powder distribution point being situated inside the manufacturing enclosure and the buffer tank being situated outside the manufacturing enclosure.

Assignees

• Addup

Inventors

• Carlavan Cedric
• Walrand Gilles

Classifications

• B33Y30/00 Primary

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

• B22F12/57

  Metering means · CPC title

• B22F12/90

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

• B22F12/52

  Hoppers · CPC title

• B22F12/37

  Rotatable · CPC title