Build material powder processing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025162256-A1
Application number	US-202318840113-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 15, 2023
Priority date	Feb 21, 2022
Publication date	May 22, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of processing build material powder for binder jetting additive manufacturing. Build material powder requiring sieving is received in a first container at a sieving station where it is passed through a first conveyance loop to a sieving unit. After sieving the build material powder is deposited in a second container. The second container of build material powder, now sieved, is taken to a feed conveyance station. The feed conveyance station passes the build material powder from the second container to a binder jetting printer via a second conveyance loop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of processing build material powder for binder jetting additive manufacturing, comprising:
receiving at a sieving station a first container of second condition powder; passing the second condition powder to a sieving unit of the sieving station via a first conveyance loop; processing the second condition powder through the sieving unit and into a second container as third condition powder; transporting the second container of third condition powder to a feed conveyance unit; and passing the third condition powder to a feed unit of a binder jetting printer via a second conveyance loop.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first conveyance loop and the second conveyance loops is inerted.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein feed conveyance station is configured to receive a plurality of containers.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
prior to the receiving at the sieve station the first container of second condition powder, providing the first container containing a first condition powder to a curing station; and
curing the first condition powder to second condition powder.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the feed conveyance unit is configured to receive three containers of build material powder, each in a dispensing orientation.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the feed conveyance unit is configured to feed build material powder from two or more of the three containers simultaneously.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the feed conveyance unit includes at least one weight sensor associated with each of the three containers.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the feed conveyance unit is configured to determine from sensor data from the weight sensors a level of build material powder in each of the three containers.

9 . The method of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the first condition powder is received from an overflow conveyance unit.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the second condition powder is received from a de-powdering station.

11 . A system for processing build material powder for binder jetting additive manufacturing, comprising:
a curing station configured to receive and process a first container of first condition powder to convert the first condition powder to a second condition; a sieve station configured to receive the first container of build material powder from the curing station and sieve the build material powder from the second condition to a third condition and into a second container; and a feed conveyance station configured to receive the second container and convey the third condition powder to a feed unit of a binder jetting printer through a second inert conveyance loop.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first conveyance loop and second conveyance loop is inerted.

13 . The system of claim 11 further comprising an overflow conveyance station configured to receive an amount of fourth condition powder from the binder jetting printer through a third inert conveyance loop and into a third container.

14 . The system of claim 11 wherein the feed conveyance station is configured to receive three containers in a triangular configuration.

15 . The system of claim 12 wherein the feed conveyance station is configured to mix powder from two or more of the three containers.

16 . The system of claim 13 wherein the sieve station is configured to mix powder from two or more of three containers.

17 . The system of claim 13 wherein the first container, second container and third container each have a receive orientation and a dispense orientation.

18 - 20 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Desktop Metal Inc

Inventors

• Zummo Peter
• Bujwid Martin
• Hudelson George

Classifications

• B33Y40/10 Primary

  Pre-treatment · CPC title

• B29C64/357

  Recycling · CPC title

• B29C64/321

  Feeding · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

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

• Y02P10/25

  Process efficiency · CPC title