Device for the generative production of a component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682397-B2
Application number	US-201514681757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 10 ) and method for the generative production of a component ( 12 ). The device comprises two supply tanks ( 14 a, 14 b ) for taking up powder-form material ( 16 ), two overflow tanks ( 22 a, 22 b ) for taking up excess powder-form material ( 16 ), wherein a closing means ( 24 a, 24 b ) is assigned to each overflow tank ( 22 a, 22 b ), this means being switchable between a closed position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) cannot be transported into the respective overflow tank ( 22 a, 22 b ), and an open position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) can be transported into the respective overflow tank ( 22 a, 22 b ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device ( 10 ) for the generative production of a component ( 12 ), comprising:
a first supply tank ( 14 a ) for the uptake of powder-form material ( 16 );
a first overflow tank ( 22 a ) for the uptake of excess powder-form material ( 16 ), wherein a first closing device ( 24 a ) is assigned to the first overflow tank ( 22 a ), the first closing device being switchable between a closed position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) cannot be transported into the first overflow tank ( 22 a ), and an open position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) can be transported into the first overflow tank ( 22 a );
a working chamber ( 26 ), in which the component ( 12 ) is producible layerwise from the powder-form material ( 16 );
the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) located between the first supply tank ( 14 a ) and the working chamber ( 26 );
a second overflow tank ( 22 b ) for the uptake of excess powder-form material ( 16 ), wherein a second closing device ( 24 b ) is assigned to the second overflow tank ( 22 b ), the second closing device being switchable between a closed position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) cannot be transported into the second overflow tank ( 22 b ), and an open position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) can be transported into the second overflow tank ( 22 b );
a second supply tank ( 14 b ) for uptake of powder-form material ( 16 );
the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) located between the second supply tank ( 14 b ) and the working chamber ( 26 ); and
a transport device ( 20 ) by which the powder-form material ( 16 ) is transported at least from the first supply tank ( 14 a ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) to the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) and by which the powder-form material ( 16 ) is transported at least from the second supply tank ( 14 b ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) to the first overflow tank ( 22 a );
wherein the transport device ( 20 ):
is movable from the first supply tank ( 14 a ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the second supply tank ( 14 b ); and
is movable from the second supply tank ( 14 b ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the first supply tank ( 14 a ).

2. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first closing device ( 24 a ) and/or the second closing device ( 24 b ) are formed as a flap, which are movable between the closed position and the open position.

3. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the first closing device ( 24 a ) is a flap, which is articulated in the region of an upper edge of the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) facing the first supply tank ( 14 a ) and can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position, and/or in that the second closing device ( 24 b ) is a flap, which is articulated in the region of an upper edge of the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) facing the second supply tank ( 14 b ) and can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position.

4. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device ( 20 ), the first closing device ( 24 a ), and the second closing device ( 24 b ) are coupled to a control device ( 30 ), wherein the control device ( 30 ) is configured:
to switch the first closing device ( 24 a ) into the closed position and the second closing device ( 24 b ) into the open position, when the transport device ( 20 ) is moved from the first supply tank ( 14 a ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the second supply tank ( 14 b ); and
to switch the first closing device ( 24 a ) into the open position and the second closing device ( 24 b ) into the closed position, when the transport device ( 20 ) is moved from the second supply tank ( 14 b ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the first supply tank ( 14 a ).

5. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first supply tank ( 14 a ) and/or the second supply tank ( 14 b ) and/or the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) and/or the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) comprise(s) a movable bottom plate ( 18 ).

6. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the working chamber ( 26 ) comprises a movable platform ( 28 ), which can be lowered for the production of the component ( 12 ).

7. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) and/or the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) are coupled to a feedback device, by which material ( 16 ) can be returned to the first supply tank ( 14 a ) and/or to the second supply tank ( 14 b ).

8. The device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device is configured as a selective laser melting unit.

9. A method for operating a device ( 10 ) comprising the steps of:
providing a first supply tank ( 14 a ) for the uptake of powder-form material ( 16 );
providing a first overflow tank ( 22 a ) for the uptake of excess powder-form material ( 16 ), wherein a first closing device ( 24 a ) is assigned to the first overflow tank ( 22 a ), the first closing device being switchable between a closed position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) cannot be transported into the first overflow tank ( 22 a ), and an open position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) can be transported into the first overflow tank ( 22 a );
providing a working chamber ( 26 ), in which the component ( 12 ) is producible layerwise from the powder-form material ( 16 );
wherein the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) located between the first supply tank ( 14 a ) and the working chamber ( 26 );
providing a second overflow tank ( 22 b ) for the uptake of excess powder-form material ( 16 ), wherein a second closing device ( 24 b ) is assigned to the second overflow tank ( 22 b ), the second closing device being switchable between a closed position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) cannot be transported into the second overflow tank ( 22 b ), and an open position, in which powder-form material ( 16 ) can be transported into the second overflow tank ( 22 b );
providing a second supply tank ( 14 b ) for the uptake of powder-form material ( 16 );
wherein the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) located between the second supply tank ( 14 b ) and the working chamber ( 26 ); and
providing a transport device ( 20 ) by which the powder-form material ( 16 ) is transported at least from the first supply tank ( 14 a ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) to the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) and by which the powder-form material ( 16 ) is transported at least from the second supply tank ( 14 b ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) to the first overflow tank ( 22 a );
wherein the transport device ( 20 ):
is moved from the first supply tank ( 14 a ) over the first overflow tank ( 22 a ) to the working chamber ( 26 ) and from the working chamber ( 26 ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the second supply tank ( 14 b ); and
is moved from the second supply tank ( 14 b ) over the second overflow tank ( 22 b ) to the working c

Assignees

• MTU Aero Engines AG

Inventors

• Jakimov Andreas
• Schlothauer Steffen
• Schlick Georg

Classifications

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title

• B29C64/357

  Recycling · CPC title

• B22F12/38

  Housings, e.g. machine housings · CPC title

• B22F12/55

  Two or more means for feeding material · CPC title

• B22F10/73

  of powder · CPC title