Method and device for producing 3D shaped parts using construction field tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975487-B2
Application number	US-201716082436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2017
Priority date	Mar 9, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing 3 D shaped parts ( 300 ), comprising a plurality of construction field tools ( 500 ), which are arranged in a movable manner, and at least one layer unit ( 800 ) which is arranged in a movable manner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for manufacturing 3D molded parts, characterized in that it comprises one or more construction field tools for manufacturing 3D molded parts, arranged in a movable manner, and at least one layering unit including a print head and a coater, also arranged in a movable manner, wherein each of the one or more construction field tools includes a bottom having an open position and a closed position, wherein the bottom is closed for moving the construction field tool with a part and loose powder from a work area for constructing the part to a next work position, and the bottom opens when the construction field tool is at a pre-unpacking station for discharging a loose powder around the part;
wherein the bottom of each one of the construction field tools is opened by a horizontal slider or a flap;
wherein a vertical position of the bottom of the construction field tool is stationary, at all times, with respect to side walls of the construction field tool.

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one layering unit are movable in the direction of Z or/and X.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more construction field tools are movable in the direction of X or/and Y.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more construction field tools includes a plurality of construction field tools arranged in series and connected to each other.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one layering unit includes a vertical axis that moves the coater and print head in a vertical direction.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more construction field tools substantially have the dimensions of the 3D molded part to be manufactured.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more construction field tools includes a plurality of construction field tools connected to each other by one or more chains, one or more toothed belts, one or more racks, or one or more cables, and the plurality of construction field tools are thereby movable or/and can thereby be synchronized.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to work in a synchronized manner.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises means for process steps after construction of the 3D molded parts or/and the device comprises means for automated removal of the 3D molded parts.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more construction field tools includes a plurality of construction field tools arranged in series and connected to each other;
the one or more construction field tools and the at least one layering unit are controllable in a directed, coordinated manner.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more construction field tools substantially have the dimensions of the 3D molded part to be manufactured.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein
the one or more construction field tools are movable in the X and/or Y directions; and
the at least one layering unit are movable in the X and/or Z directions.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of construction field tools are connected to each other and move in a synchronized manner.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layering unit includes a layering unit that is a single module and includes a printhead connected to and arranged between two coaters, wherein the printhead and two coaters connected together and travel together on a traversing axis.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device includes parallel construction field tools including a first construction field tool and a second construction field tool, wherein the at least one layering unit includes a layering unit that is a single module that coats and selectively prints on the first construction field tool and then coats and selectively prints on the second construction field tool in a single pass along a traversing axis.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layering unit includes a first layering unit that is a single module and the construction field tools includes a first construction field tool, wherein the first layering unit traverses over the first construction field tool while the construction field tool is at a work position, wherein the first layering unit includes a coater and a printhead.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the construction field tool has the horizontal slider.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein a partial movement of the horizontal slider in a length direction creates openings along the length direction of the construction field tool.

19. A method for manufacturing 3D molded parts comprising a step of:
moving a construction field tool into a work area having one or more layering units, wherein the construction filed tool has a set of opposing side walls, wherein one or both of the other sides has no side walls or has side walls having a lower height than the set of opposing side walls;
producing each of the 3D molded parts in a separate construction field tool by means of the one or more layering units, wherein the one or more layering units moves between the set of opposing side walls and becomes at least partially interposed between the set of opposing side walls, wherein the 3D molded part is surrounded by loose powder material; and
moving the construction field tool to a pre-unpacking station.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the layering unit includes a print head, a coater, and vertical axis that moves the print head and coater in a vertical direction.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the construction field tool is connected to one or more additional construction field tools, wherein the construction field tools move in a first horizontal direction.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more layering units move over a construction field tool in a second horizontal direction orthogonal to the first horizontal direction.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the opposing side walls have a face surface that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.

24. A device for manufacturing 3D molded parts comprising: a multiple of construction field tools for manufacturing 3D molded parts, arranged in a movable manner in a movement direction, and
at least one layering unit including a print head and a coater, also arranged in a movable manner in a working direction perpendicular to a vertical direction and the movement direction,
wherein each of the one or more construction field tools, prior to manufacturing the 3D molded part, has a bottom, left side wall and right side wall each connected to the bottom to prevent powder from spreading perpendicular to the working direction, and one or both of the other sides has no side walls or side walls having very low height to allow easy removal of the 3D part, wherein the left side wall has a face that is perpendicular to the movement direction and a height of the at least one layering unit is arranged for moving in the working direction at least partially interposed between the left and right side walls.

25. The device of claim 24 , wherein the at least one layering units includes a first layering unit and a redundant layering unit; wherein the printing speed is increased by using the multiple layering units and replacement or maintenance work of the first layering unit can be performed outside a housing while the device is manufacturing a part in the housing with the redundant layering unit;
optional

Assignees

• Voxeljet Ag

Inventors

• Günther Daniel

Classifications

• B29C64/245 Primary

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

• B29C64/165

  using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber · CPC title

• B29C64/182

  in parallel batches · CPC title

• B29C64/209

  Heads; Nozzles · CPC title

• B29C64/227

  Driving means · CPC title