Method and apparatus for fluid flow for additive manufacturing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12194539-B2
Application number	US-202318531840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2023
Priority date	Jun 1, 2021
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A fluid flow apparatus configured to provide a flow of fluid with particular flow profiles to a process chamber of an additive manufacturing apparatus is provided. The fluid flow apparatus includes a plurality of openings forming a first flow region, a second flow region, a third flow region, and a fourth flow region in adjacent arrangement along an axis in the process chamber between the build platform and the laser window. A controller is configured to execute instructions that perform operations that include flowing, via the second flow region, the flow of fluid along a second distance along the axis at a second velocity range between approximately 1.0 meters per second (m/s) and 6.0 m/s, and flowing, via the fourth flow region, another flow of fluid along a fourth distance along the axis at a fourth velocity range between approximately 0.1 m/s and 4.5 m/s.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising:
generating, via a body with a plurality of openings, a first flow region, a second flow region, a third flow region, and a fourth flow region in sequential adjacent arrangement from a build platform to a laser window, wherein the first flow region is proximate to the build platform, and wherein the fourth flow region is proximate to the laser window, wherein a reference distance extends between the build platform and the laser window, wherein the first flow region corresponds to between 0.1% and 10% of the reference distance, the second flow region corresponds to between 2% and 50% of the reference distance, the third flow region comprises at least 20% of the reference distance, and the fourth flow region comprises 20% or less of the reference distance; and
flowing a flow of fluid, via the body, at separate flow rates in the respective first, second, third, and fourth flow regions to generate:
a maximum spatial gradient between a minimum velocity of the third flow region and a maximum flow velocity of the second flow region or a maximum flow velocity of the fourth flow region of approximately 100 1/s; and
a velocity ratio of 1/8 or greater between the respective first, second, third, and fourth flow regions.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
flowing, via the second flow region, the respective flow of fluid at a second velocity range between approximately 1.0 meters per second (m/s) and 6.0 m/s.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
flowing, via the fourth flow region, the respective flow of fluid at a fourth velocity range between approximately 0.1 m/s and 4.5 m/s.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
flowing, via the third flow region, the respective flow of fluid at a third velocity range less than a maximum velocity of the second velocity range.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising flowing, via the third flow region, the respective third flow of fluid at least 0.1 m/s.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the third flow region with a distance up to 600 millimeters measured in a direction corresponding to the reference distance.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum spatial gradient is from 4.5 m/s to 0.1 m/s.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the velocity ratio is 1/8 or greater and less than 1.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising flowing, via the first flow region, the respective flow of fluid between approximately zero m/s and 2 m/s.

Assignees

• GE Additive Germany GmbH
• Concept Laser Gmbh

Inventors

• Roidl Benedikt
• Fauner Thomas
• Pontiller-Schymura Peter

Classifications

• B33Y40/00

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

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B22F10/85

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B22F12/70 Primary

  Gas flow means · CPC title