公开(公告)号：US20220339881A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-27

申请号：US17727006

申请日：2022-04-22

Applicant: Stratasys Powder Production Ltd.

Inventor： Gialuca Dorini

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

Abstract: Provided is a method for determining the onset of melting of a material and comprising providing a layer of the material; defining a reference area within the layer of material; providing a temperature sensor and a heat source above the reference area, the temperature sensor comprising a plurality of pixels configured to monitor the temperature of the reference area; selecting a first pixel and a second pixel to form a first reference pair of pixels of the temperature sensor to detect the temperature of corresponding first and second regions within the reference area; operating the heat source to heat the reference area over a duration of time, while monitoring, using the reference pair of pixels, the temperature of the two regions, wherein the heat source causes a temperature difference between the two regions such that the first and second pixel detect respective different temperatures over the duration of time; and determining the onset of melting of the material from the evolution of the temperature difference over the duration of time. Further provided is a controller for carrying out the method and an apparatus for the layer by layer formation of a three-dimensional object from particulate material is also provided, comprising the temperature sensor, and in which the onset of melting as determined in situ may be applied as a set point for measurement of the temperature sensor.