Methods for assembling a device for the layer-wise production of patterns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757831-B2
Application number	US-201514633756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 23, 2007
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

The instant invention relates to a method for assembling a device for the manufacturing patterns in layers. The method includes attaching a build module to a casing. The build module includes a spreader device and a dispensing device mounted above a mounting platform. The build module preferably includes a build platform mounted below the mounting platform. For example, the build module may be attached to the casing by screwing the mounting platform to the casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for assembling an apparatus comprising:
a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing includes positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing;
wherein the build module includes a mounting platform,
a spreader device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages; and wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing device and the spreader device are both positioned above the mounting platform.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the build module includes a build platform which is vertically displaceable and the build module includes a vertical hoisting mechanism for moving the build platform.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the spreader device is configured to apply a particulate material.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for accessing a build platform to be located below the mounting platform.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method includes a step of attaching the mounting platform to the casing.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the casing includes a door.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method includes screwing the mounting platform to the casing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method includes placing a cap over the build module.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the guide carriages for the dispensing device includes a pair of guide carriages fixed to opposite edges of the mounting platform.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dispensing device is mounted on a carriage that travels along the pair of guide carriages in a direction along a Y-axis, and the dispensing device travels along the carriage in a direction along an X-axis, wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method includes a step of wiring the dispensing device and the spreader device prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method includes a step of wiring a vertical hoisting mechanism prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the build module includes a build platform.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the build platform is vertically displaceable and the build module includes a vertical hoisting mechanism for moving the build platform, and the process includes a step of wiring the vertical hoisting mechanism prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material onto the build platform and the spreader device is configured to apply particulate material onto the build platform;
wherein the method includes a step of wiring the dispensing device and the spreader device prior to attaching the build module to the casing.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the build platform is movable along a Z-direction.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for a build platform.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes removing the build module from an auxiliary frame and moving the build module to the casing.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method includes lifting the build module with crane splices.

22. A method for assembling an apparatus comprising:
a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing;

wherein the build module includes a mounting platform;
the build module includes a spreader device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting platform via guide carriages: and wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers;
the dispensing device and the spreader device are both positioned above the mounting platform;
the dispensing device is a device for applying a binder material;
the spreader device is configured to apply particulate material onto a build platform;
the mounting platform includes a construction field cut-out for accessing the build platform to be located below the mounting platform;
the method includes a step of attaching the mounting platform to the casing; and
wherein the method includes removing the build module from an auxiliary frame, moving the build module to the casing, and positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing.

23. A method for assembling an apparatus
comprising: a step of positioning a build module in a chamber of a casing includes positioning the build module so that a portion of the build module is in the chamber of the casing and a portion of the build module is above the casing; and

attaching the build module to the casing;
wherein the build module includes a mounting component, a spreader device affixed to the mounting component via guide carriages and a dispensing device affixed to the mounting component via guide carriages; and
wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for the manufacture of patterns in layers.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the spreader device and/or the dispensing device is wired prior to the step of positioning the build module.

Assignees

• Voxeljet Ag

Inventors

• Ederer Ingo
• Hartmann Andreas

Classifications

• B29C64/112

  using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads · CPC title

• B29C64/153 Primary

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title

• B29C64/165

  using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B29C64/188

  involving additional operations performed on the added layers, e.g. smoothing, grinding or thickness control (surface shaping B29C59/00; after-treatment of articles without altering their shape B29C71/00) · CPC title