Fabrication table and fabricating apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11794416-B2
Application number	US-202117209865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A fabrication table includes a separable portion and a supporter. The separable portion is formed of a heat-resistant member on which a three-dimensional fabricated object is to be placed. The supporter is formed of a rigid material and configured to support the separable portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fabricating apparatus comprising:
a fabricating device configured to fabricate and sinter a three-dimensional fabricated object; and
a fabrication chamber, the fabrication chamber including
walls forming a periphery of the fabrication chamber,
a fabrication table which includes
a separable portion formed of a heat-resistant member on which a three-dimensional fabricated object is to be placed; and
a supporter formed of a rigid material secured to the fabricating device and configured to support the separable portion during a fabrication of the three-dimensional fabricated object, outer peripherals of the supporter configured to be in contact with the walls during fabrication,

the separable portion configured to separate from the supporter and walls, and to carry the three-dimensional fabricated object during transport to a sintering step.

2. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the supporter has a bottomed box shape, and
wherein the separable portion is detachably accommodated in the supporter having the bottomed box shape.

3. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the separable portion is accommodated in the supporter having the bottomed box shape in a state of being in contact with the supporter without a gap.

4. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the supporter having the bottomed box shape includes another separable portion configured to be separable from the supporter, and
wherein said another separable portion is configured to expose a part of the separable portion accommodated in the supporter.

5. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the supporter includes an opening on a side surface and a bottom surface to interface with the another separable portion.

6. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the another separable portion has an L-shape cross section and is configured to contact both the support and the separable portion.

7. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the another separable portion is configured to detachably interface with the opening of the supporter to contact a bottom surface of the separable portion and a side surface of the separable portion.

8. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the separable portion has a melting point higher than a melting point of powder for fabricating the three-dimensional fabricated object.

9. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the supporter is formed of metal, and
wherein the separable portion is formed of a ceramic member.

10. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the separable portion has a plate shape.

11. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 , further including a robot arm configured to transfer the three-dimensional fabricated object to the sintering step by gripping an exposed part of the separable portion.

12. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fabricating device further includes a motor configured to raise and lower the fabrication table in the fabrication chamber.

13. A fabricating apparatus comprising:
a fabricating device configured to fabricate and sinter a three-dimensional fabricated object; and
a fabrication table including
a first separable portion formed of a heat-resistant member on which a three-dimensional fabricated object is to be placed,
a supporter formed of a rigid material secured to the fabricating device and configured to support the first separable portion during a fabrication of the three-dimensional fabricated object, and
a second separable portion, configured to interface with a side surface of the first separable portion, a bottom surface of the first separable portion and a groove of the supporter such that removal of the second separable portion exposes a bottom surfaces of the first separate portion, the groove being an opening on a side surface and a bottom surface of the supporter,

the first separable portion configured to separate from the supporter and carry the three-dimensional fabricated object during transport to a sintering step.

14. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein the supporter has a bottomed box shape, and
wherein the first separable portion is detachably accommodated in the supporter having the bottomed box shape.

15. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the first separable portion is accommodated in the supporter having the bottomed box shape in a state of being in contact with the supporter without a gap.

16. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein the first separable portion has a melting point higher than a melting point of powder for fabricating the three-dimensional fabricated object.

17. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein the supporter is formed of metal,
wherein the first separable portion is formed of a ceramic member, and
wherein the second separable portion is formed of the ceramic member.

18. The fabricating apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first separable portion has a plate shape.

Assignees

• Sakura Shozo
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sakura Shozo

Classifications

• B29C64/40 Primary

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title

• B29C64/245

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

• B33Y40/00

  Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling · CPC title

• B33Y30/00 Primary

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

• B22F10/14 Primary

  by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder · CPC title