Additive manufacturing test feature including powder sampling capsule

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018299359-A1
Application number	US-201715490179-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2017
Priority date	Apr 18, 2017
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A test feature is disclosed that is formed during metal powder additive manufacturing of a production part. The test feature may include a metal powder sample capsule including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing, and a removable cap closing an end of the chamber. Alternatively, a test feature may include a quality control (QC) part, and at least one additional test element including a metal powder sample capsule integrally coupled to the QC part and including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing. The QC part is identical to the production part excepting the at least one test element. The QC part and the at least one test element are formed during the same metal powder additive manufacturing as the production part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A test feature formed during metal powder additive manufacturing of a production part, the test feature comprising:
a metal powder sample capsule including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing; and a removable cap closing an end of the chamber.

2 . The test feature of claim 1 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule has an exterior surface defined by a first tapered end separated from a second tapered end by an elongated body, the removable cap positioned at the first tapered end.

3 . The test feature of claim 2 , further comprising a single, manually breakable support extending from the second tapered end to support the metal powder sample capsule on a build platform.

4 . The test feature of claim 2 , further comprising a planar test area positioned on the elongated body.

5 . The test feature of claim 2 , wherein the first tapered end and the second tapered end each include an exterior surface at least a portion of which is conical, and the elongated body has a cylindrical exterior surface.

6 . The test feature of claim 1 , further comprising a single, manually breakable build platform support extending from one end of the metal powder sample capsule to support the metal powder sample capsule on a build platform.

7 . The test feature of claim 1 , further comprising a planar test area positioned on an exterior surface of the metal powder sample capsule.

8 . The test feature of claim 1 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule has an exterior surface defined by one of: a bulbous body, a cylindrical body, and a three-dimensional rhombus body.

9 . The test feature of claim 1 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule is integrally coupled to a quality control (QC) part that is otherwise identical to the production part, the QC part and the production part formed during the same metal powder additive manufacturing.

10 . The test feature of claim 9 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule and the QC part have a height identical to a height of the production part.

11 . The test feature of claim 9 , further comprising a tensile bar integrally coupled to the QC part.

12 . The test feature of claim 9 , further comprising a test bar integrally coupled to the QC part.

13 . The test feature of claim 1 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule includes a planar test area on an exterior surface thereof.

14 . The test feature of claim 1 , wherein the removable cap is coupled to the chamber by a stress concentration area configured to manually break, allowing removal of the cap and creation of an opening to the chamber.

15 . A test feature formed during metal powder additive manufacturing of a production part, the test feature comprising:
a quality control (QC) part; and at least one test element including a metal powder sample capsule integrally coupled to the QC part and including a chamber for capturing unfused powder from the metal powder additive manufacturing, wherein the QC part is identical to the production part excepting the at least one test element, the QC part and the at least one test element formed during the same metal powder additive manufacturing as the production part.

16 . The test feature of claim 15 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule includes a removable cap closing an end of the chamber.

17 . The test feature of claim 15 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule and the QC part have a height identical to a height of the production part.

18 . The test feature of claim 15 , wherein the at least one test element further includes a tensile bar integrally coupled to the QC part.

19 . The test feature of claim 15 , wherein the at least one test element further includes a test bar integrally coupled to the QC part.

20 . The test feature of claim 15 , wherein the metal powder sample capsule includes a planar test area on an exterior surface thereof.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Troitino Lopez Jose
• Craft Tiffany Muller
• Crear Donnell Eugene
• Hart Kassy Moy
• Koenig-Urban Kamilla
• Mcconnell Eric Eicher
• Medved Danijel

Classifications

• B22F10/28

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

• G01N1/04 Primary

  in the solid state, e.g. by cutting · CPC title

• G01N1/44 Primary

  Sample treatment involving radiation, e.g. heat · CPC title

• B22F10/73

  of powder · CPC title

• B22F10/40

  Structures for supporting workpieces or articles during manufacture and removed afterwards · CPC title