Abstract:
Systems, apparatus, and methods feed and distribute a powder over a working area used for producing three-dimensional objects. A powder storage unit contains a supply of powder, and a distribution member is arranged to be moveable across the working area to distribute a portion of powder onto the working area. In an embodiment, the distribution member is, in a first step, moveable a predetermined distance into a supply of powder placed in the powder storage unit, said distance being sufficiently long to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from the powder supply at one side of the distribution member to another side of the distribution member facing the working area, and the distribution member is, in a second step, moveable towards and across the working area to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method 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. Said method comprising the steps of: providing at least a first and second powder tank, providing a first type of powder in said first powder tank having a first particle size distribution, providing a second type of powder in said second powder tank having a second particle size distribution, providing a first sub-layer of said first type of powder on said work table, providing a second sub-layer of said second type of powder on top of said first layer of said first type of powder, fusing said first and second sub-layers simultaneously with a high energy beam from a high energy beam source for forming a first cross section of said three-dimensional article.
Abstract:
A method for increasing the resolution when forming a three dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed said method comprising providing a vacuum chamber providing an electron gun providing a first powder layer on a work table inside said vacuum chamber directing an electron beam from said electron gun over said work table causing the powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a first cross section of said three dimensional article providing a second powder layer on said work table directing the electron beam over said work table causing said second powder layer to fuse in selected locations to form a second cross section of said three dimensional article reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber from a first pressure level to a second pressure level between the providing of said first powder layer and said second powder layer.
Abstract:
Systems, apparatus, and methods feed and distribute a powder over a working area used for producing three-dimensional objects. A powder storage unit contains a supply of powder, and a distribution member is arranged to be moveable across the working area to distribute a portion of powder onto the working area. In an embodiment, the distribution member is, in a first step, moveable a predetermined distance into a supply of powder placed in the powder storage unit, said distance being sufficiently long to bring about a transfer of a portion of powder from the powder supply at one side of the distribution member to another side of the distribution member facing the working area, and the distribution member is, in a second step, moveable towards and across the working area to distribute the portion of powder onto the working area. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (3) layer by layer using a powdery material (5) which can be solidified by irradiating it with a high-energy beam.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, which method comprises the following steps: successive application of powder layers to a working area (5), and fusing together successive layers of said three-dimensional object (6) by successively irradiating the powdery layers with said beam (4). The invention is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: determining whether lifting of powdery material from the working area (5) occurs using a powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 1Od, 1Oe) capable of generating a signal (S) upon detection of lifting of powdery material from the working area (5), and interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area (5) where powder lifting occurs using the signal (S) generated by the powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 1Oe) for automatically trigging the interruption. The invention also concerns an apparatus (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, said apparatus (1) comprising means for successive application of powder layers to a work table, and a radiation gun (3) for delivering said beam (4) of charged particles, wherein the inventive apparatus (1) comprises a powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e) capable of generating a signal (S) upon detection of lifting of powdery material from the working area (5).