公开(公告)号：US20180200792A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-19

申请号：US15406467

申请日：2017-01-13

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： MacKenzie Ryan REDDING ,  Zachary David FIELDMAN ,  Justin MAMRAK

IPC: B22F3/105 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B23K15/00 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K37/02 ,  B23K26/14

CPC classification number: B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1056 ,  B22F2003/1059 ,  B23K15/002 ,  B23K15/0086 ,  B23K15/0093 ,  B23K26/0006 ,  B23K26/082 ,  B23K26/0876 ,  B23K26/127 ,  B23K26/14 ,  B23K26/1437 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B23K37/0235 ,  B23K2103/00 ,  B23K2103/26 ,  B23K2103/42 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods on a large-scale format. One aspect involves a build unit that can be moved around in three dimensions by a positioning system, building separate portions of a large object. The build unit has an energy directing device that directs, e.g., laser or e-beam irradiation onto a powder layer. In the case of laser irradiation, the build volume may have a gasflow device that provides laminar gas flow to a laminar flow zone above the layer of powder. This allows for efficient removal of the smoke, condensates, and other impurities produced by irradiating the powder (the “gas plume”) without excessively disturbing the powder layer. The build unit may also have a recoater that allows it to selectively deposit particular quantities of powder in specific locations over a work surface to build large, high quality, high precision objects.

公开(公告)号：US20180200791A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-19

申请号：US15406336

申请日：2017-01-13

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： MacKenzie Ryan REDDING ,  Justin MAMRAK ,  Zachary David FIELDMAN

IPC: B22F3/105 ,  B29C67/00 ,  B29C35/08 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B23K15/00 ,  B23K15/02 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B23K26/70

CPC classification number: B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1056 ,  B22F2003/1057 ,  B22F2999/00 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B22F2203/03 ,  B22F2203/13

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a recoater blade to smooth out deposited powder, such that the system can sense forces on the blade and allow vertical and horizontal displacement of the blade in response to those forces. The system can change how the blade responds to those forces, for instance the blade may respond by displacing quickly and easily away from the force (a “soft” recoater), or it may resist the force (a “stiff” recoater). This allows a single recoater blade to be used in a variety of situations without work stoppage, whereas before the blade would have to be replaced.

公开(公告)号：US20180141122A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-24

申请号：US15356253

申请日：2016-11-18

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Zachary David FIELDMAN ,  Christopher HALL

IPC: B22F3/105 ,  B22F3/24 ,  B33Y10/00

CPC classification number: B22F3/1055 ,  B22F3/24 ,  B22F2003/1058 ,  B22F2003/247 ,  B22F2003/248 ,  B22F2998/10 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  Y02P10/295

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize spoke support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel spoke support structures to be used within these AM processes. The object includes a first portion and a second portion. A first distal end of the first portion is separated from a second distal end of the second portion by a portion of unfused powder. At least one support structure connects the first distal end to the second distal end. The method includes removing the object and the support structure from the powder bed. The method includes heat treating the object and the support structure. The support structure maintains dimensional stability of the object during the heat treatment. The method includes machining away the support structure from the first distal end and the second distal end after the heat treatment.

公开(公告)号：US20180111334A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-26

申请号：US15335116

申请日：2016-10-26

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Scott Alan GOLD ,  Zachary David FIELDMAN ,  Daniel JOERGER

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  B33Y10/00

CPC classification number: B33Y10/00 ,  B22F3/1055 ,  B22F5/003 ,  B22F2003/1058 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/40 ,  B29L2009/00 ,  Y02P10/295

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize thermal dissipation support structures in the process of building objects, as well as novel thermal dissipation support structures to be used within these AM processes. The thermal dissipation support structures include at least one sacrificial structure that is separated from the object by a portion of unfused powder. The sacrificial structure increases a thermal dissipation rate of at least a portion of the object such that such that thermal gradients in the object remain below a specified threshold that prevents deformation of the object.

公开(公告)号：US20170232672A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-17

申请号：US15042010

申请日：2016-02-11

Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Inventor： Zachary David FIELDMAN ,  Daniel JOERGER ,  Neal DUNHAM

IPC: B29C67/00

CPC classification number: B33Y10/00 ,  B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1058 ,  B22F2998/10 ,  B22F2999/00 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/40 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  Y02P10/295 ,  B22F2003/247

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for additive manufacturing (AM) that utilize support structure in the process of building objects that may be removed by rotating the support structure to a second orientation before removal, as well as novel support structures to be used within these AM processes. The support structures are fabricated in a first orientation and then rotated to the second orientation. The support structures are removed by passing through an outlet of the object.