Rotatable engagement of additive manufacturing build plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017291804-A1
Application number	US-201615096482-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2016
Priority date	Apr 12, 2016
Publication date	Oct 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure include apparatuses and systems for rotatably engaging an additive manufacturing build plate. An apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure can include: a height adjustable platform; a rotatable member coupled to the height adjustable platform; an alignment member coupled to a first end of the rotatable member; and first and second coupling members each extending from the first radial end of the alignment member wherein the first and second coupling members are oriented substantially parallel to the rotatable member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a height adjustable platform; a rotatable member coupled to the height adjustable platform and defining an axial direction from the height adjustable platform; an alignment member coupled to the rotatable member and oriented radially relative to the axial direction, wherein the alignment member includes a first radial end and an opposing second radial end; a first coupling member extending in the axial direction from the first radial end of the alignment member and configured to mechanically engage a first sidewall of a plate, wherein the first coupling member is oriented substantially parallel to the rotatable member; and a second coupling member extending in the axial direction from the second end of the alignment member and configured to mechanically engage a second sidewall of the plate, the second sidewall being radially opposed to the first sidewall, wherein the second coupling member is oriented substantially parallel to the rotatable member.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second coupling members further includes a radial protrusion shaped to matingly engage a respective slot within one of the first and second sidewalls of the plate.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustable platform further includes:
a post; and a mount slidably coupled to the post through a bearing, the mount being height adjustable relative to a bearing surface of the post, wherein the rotatable member is coupled to the mount of the height adjustable platform.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an angular adjuster coupled between the post and the height adjustable platform, wherein the angular adjuster adjusts an angle of the mount relative to the bearing surface of the post.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the angular adjuster includes an extension element for adjusting the angle of the mount relative to the bearing surface of the post.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp coupled to one of the first and second coupling members, wherein the clamp is configured to inhibit axial movement of the plate relative to the rotatable member.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller coupled to the height adjustable platform and the rotatable member, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a height of the height adjustable platform and a rotational position of the rotatable member.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lock coupled to the height adjustable platform proximal to the rotatable member, the lock being configured to selectively engage the rotatable member in one of a plurality of rotational positions.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a brake coupled to the height adjustable platform and configured to selectively contact a rotatable surface of the rotatable member.

10 . An apparatus comprising:
a rotatable member including an actuator therein, and mechanically coupled to a height adjustable platform, wherein the rotatable member defines an axial direction; a pair of coupling members coupled to the rotatable member, wherein each of the pair of rotatable members extends axially and substantially parallel with the rotatable member; a controller operatively connected to the rotatable member and configured to rotatably engage the pair of coupling members with a build plate by performing actions including:
rotating the pair of coupling members to be substantially aligned with a respective pair of opposing sidewalls of the build plate,
linearly actuating the pair of coupling members to engage the pair of opposing sidewalls of the build plate, and
adjusting a position of the build plate with the pair of coupling members engaged in the pair of opposing sidewalls thereof.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to rotate the pair of coupling members to a selected angular orientation relative to a vertical reference axis.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a height of the height adjustable platform, before rotating the pair of coupling members.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to substantially align the pair of coupling members with a pair of slots each formed within one of the opposing sidewalls of the build plate.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising an alignment member coupled between the pair of coupling members and the rotatable member, wherein the alignment member extends substantially radially relative to the rotatable member and the pair of coupling members.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising an angular adjuster configured to adjust an angle of the pair of coupling members relative to a horizontal reference surface, and wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the angle of the pair of coupling members relative to the horizontal reference surface before rotating the pair of coupling members of the apparatus.

16 . A system comprising:
a height adjustable platform; a rotatable member coupled to the height adjustable platform and defining an axial direction from the height adjustable platform, the rotatable member including an actuator therein; an alignment member coupled to the rotatable member and oriented radially relative to the axial direction, wherein the alignment member includes a first radial end and an opposing second radial end; a first coupling member extending axially from the first radial end of the alignment member and configured to mechanically engage a first sidewall of a build plate, wherein the first coupling member is oriented substantially parallel to the rotatable member; a second coupling member extending axially from the second end of the alignment member and configured to mechanically engage a second sidewall of the build plate, the second sidewall being radially opposed to the first sidewall, wherein the second coupling member is oriented substantially parallel to the rotatable member; and a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator of the rotatable member, wherein the controller is configured to perform actions including:
rotating the rotatable member to be substantially aligned with a respective pair of opposing sidewalls of the build plate;
linearly actuating the rotatable member such that the first and second coupling members engage the first and second sidewalls of the build plate; and
rotating the rotatable member to move the build plate with the first and second coupling members engaged in the first and second sidewalls thereof.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the height adjustable platform further includes:
a post; and a mount slidably coupled to the post through a bearing, the mount being height adjustable relative to a bearing surface of the post, wherein the rotatable member is coupled to the mount of the height adjustable platform.

18 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a drive mechanism coupled between the mount and the bearing surface, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the drive system and further configured to adjust a height of the mount relative to the bearing surface of the post.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising an angular adjuster coupled between the post and the height adjustable platform, wherein the angular adjuster adjusts an angle of the mount relative to the bearing surface of the post.

20 . The syst

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Craft Tiffany Muller
• Barnell Steven John
• Swanner Jr Archie Lee
• Woods Steven Charles

Classifications

• B22F12/226

  for rotary motion · CPC title

• B22F12/222

  for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer · CPC title

• B22F10/10

  Formation of a green body · CPC title

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F12/90

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