公开(公告)号：US20240123686A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-18

申请号：US18484693

申请日：2023-10-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini ,  Christoffer Raad Petersen ,  Torben Lange ,  Anders Hartmann ,  David Armand ,  Kristian Noergaard

IPC: B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/343 ,  B29C64/386

CPC classification number: B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/343 ,  B29C64/386 ,  B33Y10/00

Abstract: A method of operating an apparatus for the layerwise manufacture of 3D objects. The method includes two or more operational cycles of a warm up phase, starting from ambient, followed by a build phase and a cooling phase. The warm up phase and the build phase each include a layer cycle of: (a) dosing build material to the work surface; (b) distributing a portion of the dosed amount over a build area; (c) heating the dosed amount; and (d) monitoring a temperature of the build material to determine a thermal state. The build phase includes melting layer-specific regions. These steps are repeated until the warm up and build phases are completed. A property of the subsequent warm up phases is determined such that the duration of a subsequent warm up phase is shorter than the duration of a preceding warm up phase.

公开(公告)号：US11787116B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-17

申请号：US17784523

申请日：2020-12-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini ,  Anders Hartmann ,  Marcel Garrido Barrabes ,  Steffen Kongensbjerg Larsen

IPC: B29C64/286 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/236

CPC classification number: B29C64/286 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: An infrared radiation deflector (100) for an elongate infrared lamp (110), the radiation deflector (100) comprising opposing first and second elongate side walls (130_1, 130_2); at least one end support (170) connecting the ends of the side walls (130_1, 130_2); an upper opening (140) and a lower opening (150) arranged to pass lamp radiation to an exterior of the radiation deflector (100); and a mounting point (172) provided at the/each end support (170) for mounting the infrared lamp (110) and defining between them a lamp axis location (114); wherein the first and second elongate side walls (130_1, 130_2) comprise a first elongate mirror (130_1) and a second elongate mirror (130_2) extending parallel to the lamp axis location (114) and along at least a lower internal portion of the respective first and second side walls (130_1, 130_2); wherein the lamp axis location (114) extends along and between the first mirror (130_1) and the second mirror (130_2), the first and second mirror (130_1, 130_2) each having a concave surface with respect to the lamp axis location (114); and wherein the first mirror (130_1) is an upward deflecting mirror and further arranged to be concave with respect to the upper opening (140) for redirecting at least a portion of direct lamp radiation through the upper opening (140).

公开(公告)号：US20230078159A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-16

申请号：US17943546

申请日：2022-09-13

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini

IPC: G01J5/80 ,  B29C64/165 ,  B33Y40/10 ,  G01J5/08 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B29C64/209 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/314 ,  G01J5/00

Abstract: A method for determining a set point for a thermal sensor. The method includes: (a) distributing a layer of particulate material forming a build bed surface; (b) optionally, preheating the layer to a temperature below its melting temperature; (c) measuring a first temperature value with a primary or secondary thermal sensor; (d) depositing absorption modifier over the test region and/or surrounding area; (e) heating the test region; (f) measuring a second temperature value with the primary sensor; (g) distributing another layer of material over the preceding layer; repeating steps (b) to (g), such that the test region of each layer reaches a higher temperature than that of the preceding layer, at least until the test region starts to melt; determining a set point for the primary sensor from a characteristic in the evolution of the measured temperature values; and applying the set point to subsequent measurements of the primary sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20230036660A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-02

申请号：US17789755

申请日：2020-12-23

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca DORINI ,  Anders HARTMANN ,  Marcel GARRIDO BARRABES

IPC: B29C64/153 ,  B22F12/70 ,  B29C64/25 ,  B29C64/268 ,  B29C64/364

Abstract: A structure for delivering a flow of gas across a window or aperture of an imaging or measurement device within an apparatus for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects by layer-by-layer consolidation of particulate matter, the structure comprising: a hollow body having an upper aperture for mounting in correspondence with the window/aperture of said device, a gas flow intake region below the upper aperture, and a lower aperture; wherein the gas flow intake region is provided on opposing sides of the hollow body when viewed in cross-section along a longitudinal axis that runs from the upper aperture to the lower aperture, and comprises one or more channels configured to allow, in use, a flow of intake gas to enter the hollow body from the opposing sides of the hollow body with a flow component that predominantly lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the upper aperture, and to come into confluence within the hollow body; and wherein the hollow body is symmetrically shaped about the longitudinal axis so as to redirect the confluent flow of intake gas to form a substantially axial flow of gas along the longitudinal axis, and a backflow of gas near the internal wall of the hollow body, wherein the upper aperture is substantially shielded from the backflow by the intake flow, and wherein the velocity of the backflow is relatively low in comparison to the velocity of the intake flow. Also provided is an apparatus for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects by layer-by-layer consolidation of particulate matter, incorporating such a structure, and a method of delivering a flow of gas using such a structure.

公开(公告)号：US20230001635A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-05

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

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：US20220241867A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-04

申请号：US17616979

申请日：2020-06-05

Applicant: STRATASYS POWDER PRODUCTION LTD.

Inventor： Christopher NOBLE ,  Adam ELLIS ,  George DARMANIN

IPC: B22F12/45 ,  B22F10/28 ,  B22F12/13 ,  B22F12/42 ,  B29C64/188 ,  B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/277 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/10

Abstract: A radiation source assembly (100) for an apparatus (110) for layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object by the consolidation of particulate material, the radiation source assembly (100) comprising: a plurality of radiation sources (21), each radiation source (21) being operable to emit a respective beam of radiation (26) towards a build bed surface (12) of the apparatus (110); and one or more collimators (22) arranged to collimate the beams of radiation (26) to produce one or more collimated beams of radiation (27) and to direct said collimated beams (27) of radiation towards the particulate material on the build bed surface (12).

公开(公告)号：US12115729B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-15

申请号：US17610153

申请日：2020-12-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini ,  Anders Hartmann ,  Marcel Garrido Barrabes ,  Steffen Kongensbjerg Larsen

IPC: B29C64/286 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B33Y30/00

CPC classification number: B29C64/286 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/236 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: An infrared lamp assembly for an apparatus for the formation of three-dimensional objects by consolidation of particulate material, the assembly comprising: an elongate infrared lamp extending along a lamp axis, an elongate shield extending parallel to and along one side of the axis of the lamp, and a support structure holding at least one of the ends of the lamp and of the shield, wherein the elongate shield at least partially bounds the space to one side of the lamp, and wherein the assembly provides a lower opening below the lamp and an upper opening above the lamp, such that, in use, radiation generated by the lamp is able to radiate through the openings and away from the lamp in directions not bounded by the shield.

公开(公告)号：US12086966B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-10

申请号：US17741984

申请日：2022-05-11

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca Dorini

IPC: G06T5/80 ,  G01J5/00 ,  G01J5/80

CPC classification number: G06T5/80 ,  G01J5/0066 ,  G01J5/80 ,  G01J2005/0077 ,  G06T2207/10048

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：US20240001612A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-04

申请号：US18367346

申请日：2023-09-12

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gianluca DORINI ,  Anders HARTMANN ,  Marcel GARRIDO BARRABES ,  Steffen KONGENSBJERG LARSEN

IPC: B29C64/286 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/236

CPC classification number: B29C64/286 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B29C64/282 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/245 ,  B29C64/236

Abstract: An apparatus for formation of three-dimensional objects and having an infrared radiation deflector. The radiation deflector includes opposing first and second elongate side walls; at least one end support connecting the side walls; an upper opening and a lower opening arranged to pass lamp radiation to an exterior of the radiation deflector; and a mounting point provided at the/each end support for mounting an infrared lamp. The side walls include first and second elongate mirrors extending parallel to a lamp axis and along a lower internal portion of the respective side walls. The lamp axis extends along and between the first and second mirrors, each of which has a concave surface with respect to the lamp axis. The first mirror is an upward deflecting mirror and is arranged for redirecting at least a portion of direct lamp radiation through the upper opening.

公开(公告)号：US20230182389A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-15

申请号：US18080240

申请日：2022-12-13

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Torben LANGE ,  Anders HARTMANN ,  Christopher PLEASS

IPC: B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/188 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y40/10

CPC classification number: B29C64/295 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/188 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y40/10

Abstract: Provided is a method for the layer-by-layer manufacture of an object from particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) distributing a layer of particulate material over a build bed, the layer forming a build bed surface and having a layer thickness; (b) preheating the layer to a preheat temperature; (c) heating a cross section of the object of the layer to at least a sintering temperature to cause the particulate material of the cross section to sinter or melt; (d) lowering the build bed by an increment; and (e) distributing a further layer of particulate material of substantially an intended layer thickness, the further layer forming the build bed surface; wherein an object layer cycle comprises the steps (b) to (d); and (f) optionally, repeating the object layer cycle until the object is complete; wherein the increment is different to the intended layer thickness. Further provided is a controller for carrying out the method and an apparatus comprising the controller.