Additive manufacturing apparatus and methods

    公开(公告)号:US10933620B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-02

    申请号:US15528701

    申请日:2015-11-17

    申请人: RENISHAW PLC

    摘要: This invention concerns an additive manufacturing apparatus for building a part by selectively consolidating flowable material in a layer-by-layer process comprising a build chamber (101) for building the part, a module (105, 106) for providing a focussed energy beam for consolidating flowable material in the build chamber, a gas flow circuit for generating a gas flow through the build chamber (101). At least one filter assembly (200, 201) may be arranged in the gas flow circuit, the or each filter assembly (200, 201) having associated therewith a valve (V-4, V-8) operable to seal the gas circuit upstream from the filter assembly (200, 201) and a valve (V-5, V-9) operable to seal the gas flow circuit downstream of the filter assembly (200, 201), the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-5, E-7) of the filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed whilst maintaining a controlled atmosphere in the build chamber (101). The apparatus may further comprise a purging device (210) configured to purge air from the or each filter assembly (200, 201) when the valves (V-4, V-5; V-8, V-9) associated with that filter assembly (200, 201) have sealed the filter assembly (200, 201) from the gas flow. Alternatively or additionally, a controller (131) may be arranged to control the valves (V-4, V-5; V-8, V-9) associated with the or each filter assembly (200, 201) such that the filter assemblies (200, 201) are closed off to gas flow from the build chamber (101) during a period in which the inert gas atmosphere in the build chamber (101) is compromised as a result of opening the door to the build chamber (101). The apparatus may comprise a pair of filter assemblies (200, 201) arranged in parallel within the gas flow circuit, the arrangement allowing a filter element (E-5, E-7) of the each filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed during a build by allowing the filter element (E-5, E-7) of one filter assembly (200, 201) to be changed whilst the filter element (E-5, E-7) of the other filter assembly (200, 201) is connected to filter particulates from the gas flow. A monitoring device (I-3, I-5) may be provided for detecting a property associated with the gas flow and a controller (131) arranged to control the valves to switch the filter assembly (200, 201) connected in line with the gas flow based upon signals from the monitoring device (I-3, I-5).

    MANUFACTURE OF METAL ARTICLES
    4.
    发明申请
    MANUFACTURE OF METAL ARTICLES 审中-公开
    金属制品的制造

    公开(公告)号:US20150135897A1

    公开(公告)日:2015-05-21

    申请号:US14402486

    申请日:2013-05-28

    申请人: RENISHAW PLC

    摘要: The disclosure relates to the manufacture of metal articles, more specifically the manufacture of metal articles by additive manufacturing techniques, and in particular to the manufacture of metal articles by an additive manufacturing technique that may involve the selective melting or sintering of a metal powder. Examples of such techniques may include selective laser melting (SLM), selective laser sintering (SLS) and techniques that use an electron beam rather than a laser. Exemplary embodiments include a method of manufacture of an article including selective melting and/or sintering of a powder including an alloy containing aluminium, wherein the alloy contains bismuth.

    摘要翻译: 本公开涉及金属制品的制造,更具体地,通过添加剂制造技术制造金属制品,特别是通过可能涉及金属粉末的选择性熔融或烧结的添加剂制造技术来制造金属制品。 这种技术的实例可以包括选择性激光熔化(SLM),选择性激光烧结(SLS)以及使用电子束而不是激光的技术。 示例性实施例包括制造包括选择性熔融和/或烧结包括含铝合金的粉末的制品的方法,其中该合金含有铋。