公开(公告)号：US20170232552A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-17

申请号：US15042286

申请日：2016-02-12

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Archie Lee Swanner, JR.

IPC: B23K26/142 ,  B23K26/70 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00

CPC classification number: B23K26/142 ,  B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1056 ,  B22F2003/1059 ,  B22F2999/00 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B23K26/703 ,  B29C64/357 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  Y02P10/295 ,  B22F2203/13

Abstract: A reclamation system for a metal powder, such as a reactive metal powder, is disclosed. The system may include a container; and a pressure source in fluid communication with the container for creating a selected pressure within the container, the container including: an inlet to a lower portion of the tank that is configured to hold a liquid, and an outlet. A controller controls the pressure source to control the pressure applied within the container between: a vacuum state creating a flow of air entrained metal powder to enter the inlet for forming a reclaimed metal powder by removing the metal powder from the air by immersion in the liquid, and an evaporation state that causes evaporation of the liquid to a gas that exits through the outlet. A condenser condenses the gas to a condensed liquid.

公开(公告)号：US10688593B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-23

申请号：US15626413

申请日：2017-06-19

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig ,  Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Juan Vicente Haro Gonzalez ,  Mikhail Pavlov ,  Dean Andrew Snelling, Jr.

IPC: B22F3/00 ,  B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B22F3/105 ,  B23K15/06 ,  B23K26/12 ,  B23K15/00 ,  B23K26/00 ,  B23K26/082 ,  B22F5/10 ,  B23K101/00 ,  B23K103/18 ,  B33Y10/00

Abstract: A component includes a body, and an interface in the body defining a first and second portion of the body made by different melting beam sources of a multiple melting beam source additive manufacturing system during a single build. The component also includes a channel extending through the body. The channel includes an interface-distant area on opposing sides of the interface, each interface-distant area having a first width. The channel also includes an enlarged width area fluidly communicative with the interface-distant areas and spanning the interface, the enlarged width area having a second width larger than the first width. Any misalignment of the melting beams at the interface is addressed by the enlarged width area, eliminating the problem of reduced cooling fluid flow in the channel.

公开(公告)号：US10377126B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-13

申请号：US15213906

申请日：2016-07-19

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz ,  Donnell Eugene Crear

IPC: B29C64/00 ,  B29C64/40 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/20 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29C64/153

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems are disclosed. The systems may include a base, and a retaining plate coupled to the base. The retaining plate may include a seat formed in an exposed surface of the retaining plate, and a plurality of pads extending laterally into the seat. The additive manufacturing systems may also include a build plate positioned within the seat and contacting the plurality of pads of the retaining plate. The build plate may include a build surface in substantial planar alignment with the exposed surface of the retaining plate. Additionally, the additive manufacturing systems may include a plurality of build plate retention components positioned in the seat of the retaining plate. Each of the plurality of build plate retention components may be utilized to retain the build plate within the seat of the retaining plate.

公开(公告)号：US20180356350A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15619775

申请日：2017-06-12

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Tiffany Muller Craft ,  Kassy Moy Hart ,  Mikhail Pavlov ,  Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig ,  Dean Andrew Snelling

IPC: G01N21/956 ,  G01N21/95 ,  G06T7/00 ,  B05C17/005 ,  G05D9/12 ,  B28B11/08 ,  B28B19/00

CPC classification number: G01N21/95607 ,  B05C17/00516 ,  B22F3/1055 ,  B22F2003/1056 ,  B28B11/0845 ,  B28B19/0015 ,  B29C64/30 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  G01N21/8851 ,  G01N21/9515 ,  G01N2021/8887 ,  G05D9/12 ,  G06T7/001 ,  G06T2207/20221 ,  G06T2207/30164

Abstract: A damaged applicator identifier system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and AM system including the same are disclosed. The damaged applicator identifier system may include a damaged applicator identifier determining whether the active applicator is damaged by identifying a non-planar surface in a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system after formation of the layer by the active applicator. A damaged applicator controller is configured to cause replacement or repair of the damaged, active applicator in response to the damaged applicator identifier identifying the damaged, active applicator.

公开(公告)号：US20180354208A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15619772

申请日：2017-06-12

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Mikhail Pavlov ,  Felix Martin Gerhard Roerig ,  Dean Andrew Snelling

IPC: B29C73/24 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B32B43/00

CPC classification number: B29C73/245 ,  B29C73/163 ,  B29C73/34 ,  B32B43/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: An applicator repair system for an additive manufacturing (AM) system, and an AM system including the same are disclosed. The applicator repair system includes a repair device including a repair element configured to repair a damaged applicator element on an applicator of an AM system. The damaged applicator element is configured to distribute a layer of raw material on a build platform of the AM system. The repair device is positioned within a processing chamber of the AM system. A damaged applicator controller may be provided that is configured to cause repair of the damaged active applicator in response to the damaged applicator being identified as damaged.

公开(公告)号：US10112260B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-30

申请号：US15001607

申请日：2016-01-20

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  David Edward Schick ,  Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.

IPC: B23K26/12 ,  B22F3/105 ,  B23K26/03 ,  B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B23K26/082 ,  B23K26/042 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B23K103/18

Abstract: Methods for aligning a pair of calibrated lasers of a laser additive manufacturing system in an overlap region in which the pair of calibrated lasers selectively operate are provided. Respective first and second plurality of layers of a test structure are formed in the overlap region of the pair of calibrated lasers solely using a first calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers and then solely using a second calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers. The test structure forming creates an outer surface of the test structure corresponding to the overlap region. A dimension(s) of an offset step(s) created between the first plurality of layers and the second plurality of lasers in the outer surface of the test structure is/are measured. The lasers are aligned by applying the dimension(s) of the offset step(s) as an alignment correction(s) to at least one of the pair of calibrated lasers.

公开(公告)号：US20180099458A1

公开(公告)日：2018-04-12

申请号：US15286773

申请日：2016-10-06

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Archie Lee Swanner, JR.

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  B33Y30/00

CPC classification number: B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/205 ,  B29C64/329 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B29K2105/251 ,  Y02P10/295

Abstract: A powder-filling apparatus includes a rolling frame, a powder hopper, and a powder-transferring apparatus. The rolling frame includes a support base and a lifting element coupled to the support base, the lifting element having a portion linearly movable toward and away from the support base. The powder hopper is mounted on the lifting element and adjustable in height with adjustment of the lifting element to achieve filling positions over a plurality of differently sized additive manufacturing printers. The powder-transferring apparatus is coupled with the powder hopper and is configured to transfer additive manufacturing powder from an additive manufacturing powder container to the powder hopper.

公开(公告)号：US09821543B1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-21

申请号：US15287981

申请日：2016-10-07

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.

IPC: B29C31/00 ,  B29C35/02 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B65G53/26 ,  B65G53/60 ,  B07B1/00

CPC classification number: B33Y40/00 ,  B07B1/00 ,  B07B1/005 ,  B07B1/06 ,  B07B1/38 ,  B07B13/16 ,  B29C64/357 ,  B65G53/26 ,  B65G53/60

Abstract: An additive manufacturing powder handling system includes a powder container and at least two of: an overflow powder collector system configured to collect overflow additive manufacturing powder from the additive manufacturing printer and pass the overflow additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a vacuum system configured to receive by vacuum force additive manufacturing powder from an additive manufacturing printer and pass the additive manufacturing powder into the powder container; a sieve system configured to filter the additive manufacturing powder; and a powder container moving apparatus configured to move the powder container between any two of the additive manufacturing printer, the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system. The powder container includes a powder container coupling. Each of the overflow powder collector system, the vacuum system, and the sieve system includes at least one coupling element configured to receive the powder container coupling.

公开(公告)号：US20170182594A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US15040039

申请日：2016-02-10

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz ,  Archie Lee Swanner, JR.

IPC: B23K26/14 ,  B23K26/12 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B23K26/342 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: A metal powder additive manufacturing system and method are disclosed that use increased trace amounts of oxygen to improve physical attributes of an object. The system may include: a processing chamber; a metal powder bed within the processing chamber; a melting element configured to sequentially melt layers of metal powder on the metal powder bed to generate an object; and a control system configured to control a flow of a gas mixture within the processing chamber from a source of inert gas and a source of an oxygen containing material, the gas mixture including the inert gas and oxygen from the oxygen containing material. The method may result in an object having a surface porosity of no greater than approximately 0.1%, and an effective density of greater than approximately 99.9%.

公开(公告)号：US10814391B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US15263989

申请日：2016-09-13

Applicant: General Electric Company

Inventor： Donnell Eugene Crear ,  Ray Joshua Bohon ,  Steven Charles Woods

IPC: B29C67/00 ,  B22F3/105 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B22F3/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B23K26/342 ,  G01N1/10 ,  G01N33/00

Abstract: Various aspects include systems and methods for analyzing materials in additive manufacturing processes. In some cases, a system includes: an additive manufacturing (AM) printer for printing an AM object, the AM printer including a raw material chamber and a build chamber; a control system coupled with the AM printer configured to control the printing of the AM object; and a material analysis system coupled with the control system and the AM printer, the material analysis system configured to analyze a raw material obtained directly from at least one of the raw material chamber or the build chamber for a defect prior to, or contemporaneously with, additively manufacturing the AM component.