Powder circuit for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016144431-A1
Application number	US-201514948710-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A powder circuit ( 36 ) for use in an apparatus ( 10 ) for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation comprises a process chamber ( 12 ) accommodating a carrier ( 16 ) and a powder application device ( 14 ) for applying a raw material powder onto the carrier ( 16 ), the process chamber ( 12 ) being provided with a powder inlet ( 30 ) for supplying raw material powder to the powder application device ( 14 ) and a powder outlet ( 32 ) for discharging excess raw material powder from the process chamber ( 12 ). The powder circuit ( 36 ) further comprises a powder circulation line ( 34 ) connecting the powder outlet ( 32 ) of the process chamber ( 12 ) to the powder inlet ( 30 ) of the process chamber ( 12 ) and a conveying device ( 38 ) arranged in the powder circulation line ( 34 ) for conveying the raw material powder through the powder circulation line ( 34 ). A sensor arrangement ( 42 ) is adapted to detect at least one of a parameter characteristic of a powder supply to the conveying device ( 38 ) and a parameter characteristic of a powder discharge from the conveying device ( 38 ). A control unit ( 40 ) adapted to control operation of the conveying device ( 38 ) in dependence of at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device ( 38 ) and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device ( 38 ).

First claim

1 . A powder circuit for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the powder circuit comprising:
a process chamber accommodating a carrier and a powder application device for applying a raw material powder onto the carrier, the process chamber being provided with a powder inlet for supplying raw material powder to the powder application device and a powder outlet for discharging excess raw material powder from the process chamber, a powder circulation line connecting the powder outlet of the process chamber to the powder inlet of the process chamber, a conveying device arranged in the powder circulation line for conveying the raw material powder through the powder circulation line, a sensor arrangement adapted to detect at least one of a parameter characteristic of a powder supply to the conveying device and a parameter characteristic of a powder discharge from the conveying device, and a control unit adapted to control operation of the conveying device in dependence of at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device.

2 . The powder circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the operation of the conveying device in case at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device is outside a predetermined range.

3 . The powder circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the operation of the conveying device in case the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device indicates that a powder level in the powder circulation line upstream of the conveying device is below a predetermined threshold value.

4 . The powder circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the operation of the conveying device in case the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device indicates that a powder level in the powder circulation line downstream of the conveying device is above a predetermined threshold value.

5 . The powder circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a first sensor disposed in the powder circulation line upstream of the conveying device for detecting the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device.

6 . The powder circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor arrangement comprises a second sensor disposed in the powder circulation line downstream of the conveying device for detecting the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device.

7 . A method of operating a powder circuit for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the method comprising the steps:
discharging excess raw material powder from a process chamber accommodating a carrier and a powder application device for applying the raw material powder onto the carrier through a powder outlet of the process chamber, recirculating the raw material powder discharged from the process chamber to the process chamber through a powder inlet of the process chamber for supplying raw material powder to the powder application device via a powder circulation line, conveying the raw material powder through the powder circulation line by means of a conveying device arranged in the powder circulation line, detect at least one of a parameter characteristic of a powder supply to the conveying device and a parameter characteristic of a powder discharge from the conveying device, and controlling operation of the conveying device in dependence of at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device.

8 . The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein the operation of the conveying device is stopped in case at least one of the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device and the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device is outside a predetermined range.

9 . The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein the operation of the conveying device is stopped in case the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device indicates that a powder level in the powder circulation line upstream of the conveying device is below a predetermined threshold value.

10 . The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein the operation of the conveying device is stopped in case the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device indicates that a powder level in the powder circulation line downstream of the conveying device is above a predetermined threshold value.

11 . The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein the parameter characteristic of the powder supply to the conveying device is detected by means of a first sensor disposed in the powder circulation line upstream of the conveying device.

12 . The method according to claim 7 ,
wherein the parameter characteristic of the powder discharge from the conveying device is detected by a second sensor disposed in the powder circulation line downstream of the conveying device.

13 . An apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the apparatus comprising:
an irradiation device, and a powder circuit according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• SLM Solutions Group AG

Inventors

• Wiesner Andreas
• Haack Bodo
• Schwarze Dieter

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B29C64/357

  Recycling · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B22F12/90

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