Generating three-dimensional objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016332375-A1
Application number	US-201415111605-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object is provided. The apparatus may include a housing having a surface defining a build receiver to receive differently-sized build modules or to receive a plurality of build modules. The build modules may each include a build chamber to receive a layer of build material from a build material distributor. The apparatus may include an agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of the layer of build material to be received from the build material distributor such that when energy is applied to the layer the portions of the layer coalesce and solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having a surface defining a build receiver to receive differently-sized build modules or to receive a plurality of build modules, the build modules each including a build chamber to receive a layer of build material from a build material distributor; and an agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of the layer of build material to be received from the build material distributor such that when energy is applied to the layer the portions of the layer coalesce and solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object.

2 . The apparatus claim 1 further comprising an energy source to apply energy to the layer of build material to be received by the build material distributor to cause a portion of the layer of build material to coalesce and subsequently solidify.

3 . The apparatus claim 1 further comprising the build material distributor coupled to the housing to provide the layer of the build material in the build chamber, and to provide successive layers of build material on a previously provided layer of build material.

4 . The apparatus claim 1 wherein the build module comprises the build material distributor to provide the layer of the build material in the build chamber, and to provide subsequent layers of build material on a previously provided layer of build material.

5 . The apparatus claim 1 wherein the housing includes a first fastening member to couple to a second receiving member of the build module to lock the build module in the housing.

6 . The apparatus claim 1 further comprising a controller attached to the housing to control the agent distributor to selectively deliver the coalescing agent to the build material based on build module data representing features of the build module.

7 . The apparatus claim 1 wherein the build receiver is to receive differently-sized build modules.

8 . The apparatus claim 1 wherein the build receiver is to receive a plurality of build modules.

9 . The apparatus claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of build modules have different sizes.

10 . The apparatus claim 1 wherein the build receiver is to receive the differently-sized build modules or the plurality of build modules generally laterally.

11 . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having a surface defining a build volume to receive multiple sizes of a build module or multiple build modules, the build modules each including a build chamber to receive a layer of build material from a build material distributor; and an agent distributor receiver to removably receive an agent distributor, the agent distributor to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of the layer of build material to be received from the build material distributor such that when energy is applied to the layer the portions of the layer coalesce and solidify to form a slice of the three-dimensional object.

12 . The apparatus claim 11 further comprising the build material distributor attached to the housing to provide the layer of the build material in the build chamber, and to provide subsequent layers of build material on a previously provided layer of build material.

13 . The apparatus claim 11 wherein the build receiver is to receive differently-sized build modules.

14 . The apparatus claim 11 wherein the build receiver is to receive a plurality of build modules.

15 . An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
a housing having a build receiver to receive differently-sized build modules and to receive a plurality of build modules, the build modules each including a build chamber to receive a layer of build material from a build material distributor; an agent distributor attached to the housing to selectively deliver a coalescing agent onto portions of the layer of build material to be received from the build material distributor; and an energy source attached to the housing to apply energy to the layer of build material to be received from the build material distributor to cause the portions of the layer of build material on which coalescing agent has been delivered to coalesce and subsequently solidify.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Development Co Lp

Inventors

• Juan Fernando
• De Pena Alejandro Manuel
• Comas Esteve
• Davis Edward Dale

Classifications

• B29K2105/251

  Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046) · CPC title

• B29C64/393

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title