Method and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017106570-A1
Application number	US-201615268865-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Oct 15, 2015
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pivoted powder pushing device is provided, comprising a first portion and a contact member, wherein: the contact member is configured to operatively engage a grip arm of the distribution member when the distribution member is positioned at least in part above the base surface, and the first portion is moved via the engagement of the grip arm and the contact member in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member, such that the first portion of said pivoted powder pushing devicepasses under said distribution member. An associated apparatus, method, and computer program product are also provided.

First claim

1 . A pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) for bringing a portion of powder from a base surface ( 130 ) of an apparatus ( 100 ) for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiation thereof with an energy beam and to a position between a distribution member ( 185 ) and a working area ( 190 ) of said apparatus, said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) comprising:
a first portion ( 170 ), and a contact member ( 154 ), wherein: the contact member ( 154 ) is configured to operatively engage a grip arm ( 150 ) of the distribution member ( 185 ) when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned at least in part above the base surface ( 130 ), and the first portion ( 170 ) is moved via the engagement of the grip arm ( 150 ) and the contact member ( 154 ) in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member ( 185 ), such that the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) passes under said distribution member ( 185 ).

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is electrically actuated and controlled by a control unit.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein a pivot axle ( 140 ) for said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is provided above said base surface ( 130 ).

4 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) interrupts powder flow from said powder storage unit ( 110 ) onto said base surface ( 130 ) during a portion of its pivoted stroke.

5 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said powder supply base surface ( 130 ) has a curved shape.

6 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the distribution member ( 185 ) is moveable in a translational fashion, and the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is movable in a curved trajectory.

7 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the contact between the contact member ( 154 ) and the grip arm ( 150 ) occurs only when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned over the base surface ( 130 ).

8 . Apparatus ( 100 ) for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, such as electromagnetic radiation or an electron beam, said apparatus ( 100 ) comprising:
a pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) for bringing a portion of powder from a base surface ( 130 ) of said apparatus to a position between a distribution member ( 185 ) of said apparatus and a working area ( 190 ) of said apparatus, wherein:
said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) comprises a first portion ( 170 ), and a contact member ( 154 ),
the contact member ( 154 ) is configured to operatively engage a grip arm ( 150 ) of the distribution member ( 185 ) when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned at least in part above the base surface ( 130 ), and
the first portion ( 170 ) is moved via the engagement of the grip arm ( 150 ) and the contact member ( 154 ) in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member ( 185 ), such that the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) passes under said distribution member ( 185 ).

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is electrically actuated and controlled by a control unit.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a pivot axle ( 140 ) for said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is provided above said base surface ( 130 ).

11 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) interrupts powder flow from said powder storage unit ( 110 ) onto said base surface ( 130 ) during a portion of its pivoted stroke.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said powder supply base surface ( 130 ) has a curved shape.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein:
the distribution member ( 185 ) is moveable in a translational fashion, and the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) is movable in a curved trajectory.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the contact between the contact member ( 154 ) and the grip arm ( 150 ) occurs only when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned over the base surface ( 130 ).

15 . A computer-implemented method for producing a three-dimensional article layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, such as electromagnetic radiation or an electron beam, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a powder storage unit comprising an opening spaced apart from a base surface, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; bringing a predetermined amount of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area with a pivoted powder pushing device; and moving said distribution member towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area for forming a layer of powder material, wherein:
said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) comprises a first portion ( 170 ), and a contact member ( 154 ),
the contact member ( 154 ) is configured to operatively engage a grip arm ( 150 ) of the distribution member ( 185 ) when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned at least in part above the base surface ( 130 ), and
the first portion ( 170 ) is moved via the engagement of the grip arm ( 150 ) and the contact member ( 154 ) in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member ( 185 ), such that the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) passes under said distribution member ( 185 ).

16 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising at least one executable portion configured for:
providing a powder storage unit comprising an opening spaced apart from a base surface, where said base surface is supporting a supply of powder in said powder storage unit; bringing a predetermined amount of powder from said base surface to a position between said distribution member and said working area with a pivoted powder pushing device; and moving said distribution member towards and across the working area so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area for forming a layer of powder material, wherein:
said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) comprises a first portion ( 170 ), and a contact member ( 154 ),
the contact member ( 154 ) is configured to operatively engage a grip arm ( 150 ) of the distribution member ( 185 ) when the distribution member ( 185 ) is positioned at least in part above the base surface ( 130 ), and
the first portion ( 170 ) is moved via the engagement of the grip arm ( 150 ) and the contact member ( 154 ) in a first direction opposite a direction of travel of the distribution member ( 185 ), such that the first portion ( 170 ) of said pivoted powder pushing device ( 125 ) passes under said distribution member ( 185 ).

Assignees

• Arcam Ab

Inventors

• Karlsson Kristofer

Classifications

• B29C64/153 Primary

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F12/67

  Blades · CPC title

• B22F12/50

  Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads · CPC title

• B22F10/28

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

• B22F12/226

  for rotary motion · CPC title