Abstract:
The invention concerns an apparatus (1 ) for producing a three-dimensional object (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam (4), said apparatus (1 ) comprising an electron gun (3) for generating said energy beam (4) and a working area (5) onto which the powdery material is distributed and over which the energy beam (4) sweeps during irradiation. The invention is characterized in that the apparatus (1) is provided with a system (12, 14, 16, 18) for feeding controlled amounts of a reactive gas into the apparatus (1) such as to contact the reactive gas with material positioned on the working area (5), said reactive gas being capable of, at least when having been exposed to the energy beam (4), reacting chemically and/or physically with the material positioned on the working area (5). The invention also concerns a method for operating an apparatus of the above type.
Abstract:
The invention concerns an apparatus (1) for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with an energy beam, such as electromagnetic radiation or an electron beam, said apparatus (1) comprising: a working area (3) onto which layers of powdery material are to be placed; a powder storage unit (11) comprising a base surface (13) for supporting a supply of powder (2); and a powder distribution member (6); wherein the base surface (13) extends along a side of the working area (3), wherein the distribution member (6) extends in a direction along the base surface (13) and said side of the working area (3) and is arranged to be moveable in a plane above, and substantially parallel to, the base surface (13) and the working area (3), and wherein the distribution member (6) is arranged to be moveable into a supply of powder (2) placed onto the base surface (13) such as to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from a side of the distribution member (6) facing away from the working area (3) to an opposite side of the distribution member (6) facing the working area (3), said distribution member (6) further being arranged to be moveable towards and across the working area (3) so as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area (3). The invention is characterized in that at least a part (15) of the base surface (13) is arranged to be resilient in a vertical direction.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a powder application system (1) for feeding and distributing a powder over a working area (3) in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects, said system (1) comprising a powder storage unit (11) adapted to contain a supply of powder (2) and further comprising a distribution member (6) that is arranged to be moveable across the working area (3) as to distribute a portion of powder onto the working area (3). The invention is characterized in that the distribution member 86) is arranged to be, in a first step, moveable a predetermined distance into a supply of powder (2) placed in the powder storage unit (11), said distance being sufficiently long to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from the powder supply (2) at one side of the distribution member to another side of the distribution member (6) facing the working area (3), and that the distribution member (6) is arranged to be, in a second step, moveable towards and across the working area (3) as to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area (3).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a methods, computer program products, program elements, and apparatuses for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article. The method comprising the steps of providing at least one electron beam source emitting an electron beam for at least one of heating or fusing the powder material, where the electron beam source comprises a cathode and an anode, and varying an accelerator voltage between the cathode and the anode between at least a first and second predetermined value during the forming of the three-dimensional article.
Abstract:
A method for forming at a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together with at least one energy beam so as to form the article, the method comprising the steps of: generating a model of the three-dimensional article; applying a first powder layer on a work table; directing the at least one energy beam from at least one energy beam source over the work table causing the first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to the model to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article; introducing a predetermined surface topography on the first cross section for reducing thickness variations and or increasing the powder packing density in a powder layer provided on top of the first cross section.
Abstract:
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for operating an additive manufacturing apparatus (21) in which a three-dimensional article (3) is formed. Said method comprising the steps of: providing a vacuum chamber (20a, 20b) having at least a first (20a) and a second (20b) section, wherein said first and second sections are openly connected to each other, providing a predetermined vacuum level inside said vacuum chamber, providing a layer of powder material on a work table (2) in said first section of said vacuum chamber, directing an electron beam from said at least one electron beam source (6) provided in said second section over said work table to fuse in first selected locations according to said model to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, purging said second section with a dry gas (from 46, via 44, 50) when said vacuum chamber is open for prohibiting ambient air into said second section.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for removing moisture from powder to be used in an additive manufacturing process for forming a three- dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of at least one layer of a powder bed provided on a work table, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three- dimensional article,characterized in that said method comprising the steps of: providing at least a first powder tank and at least at least a second powder tank,providing a predetermined amount of powder on a movable table inside said first powder tank,heating the top surface of the powder in said first powder tank to a predetermined temperature interval for removing moisture from said powder, raising said movable table a predetermined distance, moving a predetermined thickness of the powder material from said first powder tank to said second powder tank.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article, the apparatus comprising an electron beam source emanating an electron beam for fusing the powder material in a build tank, a hollow construction having an upper opening and a lower opening, means for moving the hollow construction between a first position and a second position, a synchronising unit for synchronising the movement of a powder distributor for applying the individual layers of powder material on the work table with the movement of the hollow construction so that the hollow metal construction is at the first position when fusing and/or heating the powder layer and at the second position when the powder distributor is distributing the powder material for forming the individual powder layers.
Abstract:
A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, the method comprising the steps of: providing a model of the at least one three dimensional article; applying a first powder layer on at least one build platform; directing an electron beam from an inclined electron beam source over the at least one build platform where a central electron beam emanating from the source is building an angle α with respect to a normal to the build platform ≠0º, the directing of the first energy beam causing the first powder layer to fuse in a first selected locations according to the model; rotating or tilting the electron beam source a predetermined angle, directing the electron beam from the tilted or rotated electron beam source causing a first powder layer to fuse in a second selected locations according to the model.
Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of: distributing a titanium alloy or pure titanium powder layer on a work table inside a vacuum chamber, directing at least one electron beam from at least one electron beam source over the work table causing the powder layer to fuse in selected locations, distributing a second powder layer on the work table of a titanium alloy or pure titanium inside the build chamber, directing the at least one electron beam over the work table causing the second powder layer to fuse in selected locations, and releasing a predefined concentration of the gas from the metal powder into the vacuum chamber when at least one of heating or fusing the metal powder layer, wherein at least one gas comprising hydrogen is absorbed into or chemically bonded to the titanium or titanium alloy powder to a concentration of 0.01-0.5 % by weight of the hydrogen.