Apparatus and method for angular and rotational additive manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12023739-B2
Application number	US-201816761691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Nov 10, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

An additive manufacturing apparatus is provided and may include at least one build unit; a build platform; and at least one collector positioned on the apparatus such that the at least one collector contacts an outer surface of a build wall as the build wall is formed during a build. Methods are also provided for manufacturing at least one object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
at least one build unit;
a build platform; and
at least one collector having a first end contacting and extending from an outer surface of a first build wall defining a first build envelope as the first build wall is formed during operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the first build wall at least partially defines a powder bed, wherein a built object is formed separate and apart from the first build wall within the powder bed, wherein the first end of the at least one collector being in contact and extending from the outer surface of the first build wall forms a powder cavity configured to temporarily trap a powder material along the outer surface of the first build wall, exterior of the powder bed and apart from the built object.

2. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collector comprises a collection arm contacting the outer surface of the first build wall.

3. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the collection arm contacting the outer surface of the first build wall forms the powder cavity therebetween.

4. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the at least one collector is attached to the at least one build unit via a support member.

5. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the support member includes a pivot joint, wherein the pivot joint is biased to maintain the first end of the at least one collector in contact with the outer surface of the first build wall, and wherein the pivot joint is controlled with movement of the at least one build unit.

6. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the at least one collector is attached to a positioning mechanism via a support member.

7. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one build unit comprises a powder delivery mechanism, a powder recoating mechanism and an irradiation beam directing mechanism.

8. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one collector comprises a first collector and a second collector, wherein a first end of the first collector is configured to contact the first build envelope of the first build wall and a first end of the second collector is configured to contact a second build envelope defined by a second build wall, wherein the first build wall and the second build wall define the powder bed.

9. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the build platform is a rotating build platform, and wherein the first collector is an inner collector configured to maintain contact with the first build envelope, the second collector is an outer collector configured to maintain contact with the second build envelope, and wherein the first build envelope is closer than the second build envelope to an axis of rotation of the rotating build platform.

10. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one build unit comprises a first build unit and a second build unit.

11. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each of the first build unit and the second build unit respectively comprise a first collector and a second collector, wherein a first end of the first collector is configured to maintain contact with the first build envelope of the first build wall and a first end of the second collector is configured to maintain contact with a second build envelope of a second build wall.

12. The additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the build platform is a rotating build platform configured to rotate about an axis, and wherein the first build unit and the second build unit are spaced apart from one another across the axis.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Mamrak Justin
• Redding Mackenzie Ryan

Classifications

• Y02P10/25

  Process efficiency · CPC title

• B22F10/47

  characterised by structural features · CPC title

• B22F12/67

  Blades · CPC title

• B22F12/37

  Rotatable · CPC title

• B22F12/226

  for rotary motion · CPC title