Apparatus for removing excess material and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021170491-A1
Application number	US-201917048583-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 6, 2019
Priority date	May 29, 2018
Publication date	Jun 10, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and method for removing excess material, preferably a powder, from a cavity of a component, wherein the apparatus includes: a platform for retaining the component, preferably an additively manufactured component, a drive mechanism being coupled to the platform, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the component being retained by the platform independently around two orthogonal spatial directions and each with an unlimited angular deflection, an actuator for mechanically actuating the platform during a removal of the excess material, and a housing, defining a working space in which the excess material can be removed from the cavity, wherein the housing seals the working space against an environment, and wherein any electrical components for the drive mechanism are arranged out of the working space.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for removing excess material from a cavity of a component, comprising:
a platform for retaining the component, a drive mechanism being coupled to the platform, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to rotate the component being retained by the platform independently around two orthogonal spatial directions (X, Y) and each with an unlimited angular deflection (α,β), an actuation means for mechanically actuating the platform during a removal of the excess material, and a housing, defining a working space in which the excess material is removable from the cavity, wherein the housing seals the working space against an environment, and wherein any electrical components for the drive mechanism are arranged out of the working space.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the drive mechanism comprises two independently controllable worm gears, one worm gear being configured for rotation of the platform around one spatial direction (X,Y) each, and wherein an electrical motor for driving said worm gear and any electrical connection is arranged outside of the working space.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuation means, is arranged inside the working space and driven by a pressurised inert gas and without any electrical gear.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuation means comprises a first vibration generator being configured for actuating the platform at a first frequency and a second, vibration generator being configured for actuating the platform at a second frequency being different from the first frequency.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the first vibration generator is a low frequency, high impact generator, and the second vibration generator is a high frequency, low impact generator.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the first frequency comprises frequencies from 1 mHz to 1 Hz.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the second frequency comprise frequencies from 1 Hz to 10 kHz.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein the first vibration generator and the second vibration generator are independently controllable.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the apparatus is configured to allow for driving and actuating the platform while retaining large masses.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit being connected to the drive mechanism and the actuation means.

11 . A method of operating the apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the apparatus is controlled by a computer program which drives and actuates the platform under consideration of gravity, cavity openings of the component and an ideal excess material removal path.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the excess material comprises a powder.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the component comprises an additively manufactured component.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the large masses are more than 50 kg.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Lebed Yaroslav

Classifications

• B08B15/02 Primary

  using chambers or hoods covering the area {(B08B15/002 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B22F10/73

  of powder · CPC title

• B22F10/28 Primary

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

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B33Y40/00

  Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling · CPC title