公开(公告)号：US20220388240A9

公开(公告)日：2022-12-08

申请号：US17311242

申请日：2019-12-05

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Frederik Tjellesen ,  Anders Hartmann ,  Neil Hopkinson

IPC: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B29C64/218

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder, the apparatus (1) comprising: a build bed (201) having a build area (190), wherein successive layers of said three-dimensional object are formed in the build bed (201); a powder distribution sled (300) operable to distribute a layer of powder within the build area (190), the powder distribution sled (300) being driveable in a first direction along a first axis, across the build area (190), and driveable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the first axis; and a print sled (350) operable to deposit a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder within the build area (190) to define the cross section of said object in said layer, the print sled (350) being driveable in the first direction along a second axis across the build area, and driveable in the second direction along the second axis; wherein the first axis is parallel to, or coaxial with, the second axis; wherein the print sled (350) comprises one or more droplet deposition heads (370) for depositing the fluid, a first radiation source assembly (L1), and a second radiation source assembly (L2); wherein the powder distribution sled (300) comprises a powder distribution device (320) for distributing the powder, a third radiation source assembly (L3) and a fourth radiation source assembly (L4); and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth radiation source assemblies is operable to both preheat and sinter powder within the build area (190). A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder using such apparatus is also provided.

公开(公告)号：US11986998B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-21

申请号：US17782817

申请日：2020-12-03

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Marcel Garrido ,  Anders Hartmann ,  Gianluca Dorini ,  Simon Bak ,  Hans Niels-Christiansen

IPC: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/364 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

CPC classification number: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/364 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from particulate material, the apparatus comprising: • a work space (100) bounded by a first side wall (100A) on a first side of the work space, and a second side wall (100B) on a second side of the work space, the first side wall opposing the second side wall; • a build bed (170) having a build bed surface (160), the build bed surface being comprised in the floor of the work space and having a first edge (160′) on the first side of the work space, towards the first side wall, and a second edge (160″) on the second side of the work space, towards the second side wall; • a first gas inlet (101A) at or near the first side wall; • a second gas inlet (101B) at or near the second side wall; • a first gas outlet (102A) above the floor (100C) of the work space, the position of the first gas outlet being coincident with the first edge of the build bed surface, or between the first edge of the build bed surface and the first gas inlet; and • a second gas outlet (102B) above the floor of the work space, the position of the second gas outlet being coincident with the second edge of the build bed surface, or between the second edge of the build bed surface and the second gas inlet; • wherein the first gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the first gas inlet, and the second gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the second gas inlet; and • wherein one or more flow devices (210, 211, 212) are operable to create first and second gas flows between the first gas inlet and the first gas outlet, and between the second gas inlet and the second gas outlet, respectively, such as to create respective first and second gas curtains on the first and second sides of the work space in use.

公开(公告)号：US20240123687A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-18

申请号：US18484643

申请日：2023-10-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini ,  Christoffer Raad Petersen ,  Anders Hartmann ,  David Armand

IPC: B29C64/343 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02

CPC classification number: B29C64/343 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: A method of operating an apparatus for the layerwise manufacture of 3D objects. The method includes a warm up phase followed by a build phase. The phases each include a cycle of (a) dosing an amount of build material from a dosing device; (b) pushing a portion of the dosed amount across a build area into a receiving chamber; (c) heating the dosed amount at one or both of (a) and (b); repeating (a) to (c) until each phase is complete. During the build phase, at step (b) a layer is formed over the build area and, at step (c), build material within a layer-specific region is selectively melted. Over a given duration of time, an aggregate volume of build material pushed into the receiving chamber during the warm up phase is larger than an aggregate volume of build material pushed into the receiving chamber during the build phase.

公开(公告)号：US20230405932A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-21

申请号：US18453794

申请日：2023-08-22

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Frederik TJELLESEN ,  Anders HARTMANN ,  Alexander RASMUSSEN

IPC: B29C64/307 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/357 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B22F10/73 ,  B22F12/50

CPC classification number: B29C64/307 ,  B29C64/214 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/321 ,  B29C64/357 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B22F10/73 ,  B22F12/50 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: A method for recirculating powder in an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from the powder. The powder recirculation method includes: providing powder in a powder repository, the powder being one of fresh powder, excess powder or a blend thereof; transferring the powder from the repository to a work surface; distributing the powder across a build surface and resulting in a portion of the powder defining excess powder; returning the excess powder back to the repository; monitoring the amount of powder in the repository relative to a predetermined amount of powder; and delivering fresh powder from a powder tank to the repository when the amount of powder in the repository is less than the predetermined amount and not delivering fresh powder when excess powder is being returned to repository and the amount of powder in the repository is greater than the predetermined amount of powder.

公开(公告)号：US20230249400A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-10

申请号：US18301478

申请日：2023-04-17

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Frederik Tjellesen ,  Anders Hartmann ,  Neil Hopkinson

IPC: B29C64/165 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B29C64/218 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B22F10/14 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/13 ,  B22F12/45 ,  B22F12/67 ,  B29C64/282

CPC classification number: B29C64/165 ,  B22F10/14 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/13 ,  B22F12/45 ,  B22F12/67 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/218 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  B22F10/68

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional object from a powder to form each layer of the object. The method includes the steps of driving a powder distribution sled in a first direction to distribute a layer of powder; driving a print sled in the first direction; driving the print sled and the powder distribution sled in a second direction; preheating the layer of powder by activating multiple radiation sources during various ones of the driving steps; during some of the driving steps, depositing a pattern of fluid onto the layer of powder; and sintering the powder on which fluid was deposited only in the second direction, by activating the at least one radiation source assembly during various ones of the driving steps in that direction. Repeating the above steps to distribute the next layer of powder.

公开(公告)号：US20230191694A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17920677

申请日：2021-04-22

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini

IPC: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/46 ,  B22F12/90 ,  B22F10/31 ,  G01J5/80

CPC classification number: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/46 ,  B22F12/90 ,  B22F10/31 ,  G01J5/80 ,  B33Y10/00

Abstract: A method for determining a set point for measurements from a temperature sensor of an apparatus for the layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object from particulate material, and associated controllers. The method includes distributing a calibration layer of particulate material over a build bed surface; selectively applying absorption-modifying fluid to a reference area or a surrounding area thereof, on the build bed surface; (c) lowering the build bed surface to a calibration depth, (d) applying heat to the reference area using a moveable heat source while measuring the temperature increase of a sub-reference area over a duration of time and/or taking optical readings of an optical property of the sub-reference area over the duration of time; (e) determining the onset of fusion of the particulate material; and (f) applying the onset of fusion as the set point for subsequent temperature measurements.

公开(公告)号：US20220383460A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-01

申请号：US17741984

申请日：2022-05-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini

IPC: G06T5/00 ,  G01J5/00 ,  G01J5/80

Abstract: A method for correcting thermal image distortion in a thermal camera in an apparatus for the layer-by-layer manufacture of three-dimensional objects, the thermal camera comprising a plurality of sensor pixels arranged along a first direction; the method comprising the steps of: (a) causing a temperature reference to be at a first steady state temperature; (b) moving the temperature reference at the first steady state temperature through a plurality of positions along the first direction through the field of view of the thermal camera; (c) recording a plurality of thermal images with the thermal camera while moving the temperature reference during step (b), each thermal image corresponding to one of the plurality of positions and comprising the detected temperature of the temperature reference as detected by at least one pixel of the plurality of sensor pixels; (d) identifying the at least one pixel that detected the temperature of the temperature reference within a respective thermal image at the corresponding one of the plurality of positions; (e) constructing a thermal map from the identified pixels representing the detected temperature of the temperature reference at the plurality of positions; (f) generating a correction matrix for the identified pixels based on comparison between the thermal map and the first steady state temperature; and (g) applying the correction matrix to subsequent measurements of the thermal camera. A controller and an apparatus for the layer-by-layer manufacture of three-dimensional objects comprising the controller to carry out the method are also provided.

公开(公告)号：US20220184887A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-16

申请号：US17685041

申请日：2022-03-02

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Frederik TJELLESEN ,  Anders HARTMANN

IPC: B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/314 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/255 ,  B29C64/241 ,  B01F27/053 ,  B01F27/112 ,  B01F27/1121 ,  B01F27/1125

Abstract: A stirring device for a powder tank of an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The stirring device is configured to rotate within the powder tank about an axis of rotation, and comprises a base plate and a strut. The strut extends from the base plate and is arranged to extend into the powder tank forming an obtuse angle with the outer edge of the base plate

公开(公告)号：US20240367378A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-07

申请号：US18770067

申请日：2024-07-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Marcel GARRIDO BARRABES ,  Anders HARTMANN

IPC: B29C64/364 ,  B08B15/00 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: An apparatus for the layer-by-layer formation of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes a gas extraction system and an enclosed working space. The working space includes a working space inlet allowing gas to enter, a working space outlet allowing gas to exit, and a build bed surface in which a the object is formed. The gas extraction system includes: a primary conduit having a first primary inlet, a first interfacing inlet, and a primary outlet connectable to an external extraction source; and a first secondary conduit having a first secondary inlet and outlet. The first secondary inlet is in fluidic communication with the working space. The first secondary outlet is in fluidic communication with the first interfacing inlet. The gas extraction system further includes a flow controller to control the flow of gas from the working space into the first secondary conduit, and thereafter into the primary outlet.

公开(公告)号：US20240342986A1

公开(公告)日：2024-10-17

申请号：US18637175

申请日：2024-04-16

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Marcel GARRIDO ,  Anders HARTMANN ,  Gianluca DORINI ,  Simon BAK ,  Hans NIELS-CHRISTIANSEN

IPC: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/364 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

CPC classification number: B29C64/165 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/264 ,  B29C64/364 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from particulate material. The apparatus includes a work space bounded by a first side wall on a first side of the work space, and a second side wall on a second side of the work space, the first side wall opposing the second side wall: a build bed having a build bed surface, the build bed surface being comprised in the floor of the work space and having a first edge on the first side of the work space, towards the first side wall, and a second edge on the second side of the work space, towards the second side wall: a first gas inlet at or near the first side wall; a second gas inlet at or near the second side wall; a first gas outlet above the floor of the work space, the position of the first gas outlet being coincident with the first edge of the build bed surface, or between the first edge of the build bed surface and the first gas inlet; and a second gas outlet above the floor of the work space, the position of the second gas outlet being coincident with the second edge of the build bed surface, or between the second edge of the build bed surface and the second gas inlet: wherein the first gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the first gas inlet, and the second gas outlet is positioned higher in the work space than the second gas inlet: and wherein one or more flow devices are operable to create first and second gas flows between the first gas inlet and the first gas outlet, and between the second gas inlet and the second gas outlet, respectively, such as to create respective first and second gas curtains on the first and second sides of the work space in use.