Method for assessing the structural quality of three-dimensional components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015367453-A1
Application number	US-201414764497-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 24, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for assessing the structural quality of three-dimensional components which are produced by laser sintering or laser melting. The component is produced by the successive solidification of individual layers of a construction material solidified by the action of radiation, by sintering or fusing the construction material. The fusion region is captured by a sensor device and sensor values for evaluating the quality of the component are derived therefrom. The sensor values with the co-ordinate values which localize the sensor values in the component are stored with a division of the calculated sensor values into values which are critical to the structural quality of the component and non-critical values to said quality and with a representation of those values critical to the structural quality of the component as to their distance from a reference point lying or arranged in the region of the surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Method for assessing the structural quality of three-dimensional components ( 1 ), which are produced by a laser sintering or laser melting process, in which the component ( 1 ) is produced by sequential solidification of individual layers comprised of construction material able to be solidified by exposure to irradiation, by sintering or melting the construction material, wherein the melt area created by a punctiform or linear application of energy is recorded by a sensor device and sensor values ( 3 ) for evaluating a component quality are derived from this and the sensor values ( 3 ) are stored, together with the coordinate values localizing the sensor values ( 3 ) in the component ( 1 ),
wherein the classification of the sensor values ( 3 ) determined into values critical and noncritical for the structural quality of the component ( 1 ) and the display of at least the values critical for the structural quality of the component ( 1 ), with reference to the distance from a reference point ( 6 ) located or arranged in the area of the surface ( 5 ) of the component ( 1 ).

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a defined point ( 6 c ) on an external surface ( 5 ) of the finished component ( 1 ), an edge ( 6 d ) of the finished component ( 1 ) or a clamping recess ( 6 b ) or a clamping lug ( 6 a ) on the finished component ( 1 ) is defined as the reference point ( 6 ).

3 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor values ( 3 ) recorded for evaluating the structural quality are depicted by a visualization device ( 20 ) in a two- or multidimensional display, with reference to their recording location in the component ( 1 ) and with reference to the selected reference point ( 6 ) on the component ( 1 ).

4 . Method according to claim 1 , the method being characterized by display of a measurement ( 10 ) between the selected reference point ( 6 ) and a displayed sensor value ( 3 ) assessed as structurally critical.

5 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the component ( 1 ) is divided into load-critical ( 12 ) and load-noncritical areas ( 14 ) and sensor values ( 3 ) classified as structurally critical are only displayed in load-critical component areas ( 12 ).

6 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein sensor values ( 3 ) assessed as particularly structurally critical are displayed in all component areas ( 12 , 14 ).

7 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein potential yield lines ( 16 ) are defined in load-critical component areas ( 12 ) by predetermined design and the sensor values ( 3 ) assessed as structurally critical can be displayed with reference to a potential yield line ( 16 ).

8 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a number of sensor values ( 3 ) to be classified as structurally critical in close proximity to one another can be displayed as a sensor value cluster ( 30 ).

9 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor value clusters ( 30 ) are displayed with reference to potential yield lines ( 16 ) and a high risk of fracture is indicated by a degree of clustering of critical sensor values ( 3 ) to be determined near potential yield lines ( 16 ).

10 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the fracture risk is displayed in fracture risk stages, wherein a classification into fracture risk stages is made as a function of the number of critical sensor values ( 3 ), the severity of the structural damage expected on the basis of the sensor values ( 3 ), based on individual sensor values ( 3 ) or sensor value clusters ( 30 ) or their distance from a potential yield line ( 16 ).

11 . Method according to claim 7 , wherein a distance of critical sensor values ( 3 ) or of critical sensor value clusters ( 30 ) with reference to potential yield lines ( 16 ) is represented by measured distance lines ( 10 ).

12 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the finished component ( 1 ) is set into a clamping device in a location defined by means of its clamping recess ( 6 b ) or its clamping lug ( 6 a ) or with reference to an edge ( 6 d ) or surface ( 6 c ) of the component ( 1 ) and an internal area of the component ( 1 ) with determined sensor values ( 3 ) assessed as structurally critical is exposed.

13 . Method according to claim 12 , wherein an inside of the component ( 1 ) to be examined is exposed by slicing the component ( 1 ), drilling out the component ( 1 ) or by breaking the component ( 1 ).

14 . Method according to claim 13 , wherein the component ( 1 ) is fractured in a breaking device, wherein a cutting blade ( 40 ) of the breaking device is placed against an external area of the defined clamped component ( 1 ), under which critical sensor values ( 3 ) are disposed, and forces resulting in the fracture of the component ( 1 ) are exerted on the component ( 1 ) and a breaking load is determined.

Assignees

• Cl Schutzrechtsverwaltungs Gmbh

Inventors

• Herzog Frank

Classifications

• B22F12/90

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

• B22F10/28

  Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] · CPC title

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F10/80

  Data acquisition or data processing · CPC title

• B33Y40/00

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