阅读说明：本技术 带有自密封设计的构建隔室 (Build compartment with self-sealing design ) 是由 U·艾克里德 于 2019-04-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及在基于粉末床的3D打印系统中使用的构建隔室。构建隔室是3D打印装置中的体积,在那里3D物体(206)是通过薄层的粉末连续固结形成的。构建隔室设计为具有至少两个相对彼此可移动的垂直壁结构(203,204)。可移动的壁结构(203,204)在可移动方向上至少部分地重叠,从而提供用于封闭粉末的可变体积的自密封。与其他可用设计相反,此解决方案不需要可压缩的密封材料(例如弹性体、织物毛毡或编织绳)来防止粉末从构建隔室泄漏。优点是密封更可靠,并且没有被密封材料的碎屑污染粉末的风险。(The invention relates to a build compartment for use in a powder bed based 3D printing system. The build compartment is a volume in the 3D printing apparatus where the 3D object (206) is formed by a continuous consolidation of a thin layer of powder. The building compartment is designed with at least two vertical wall structures (203, 204) that are movable relative to each other. The movable wall structures (203, 204) at least partially overlap in the movable direction, thereby providing a self-sealing for enclosing a variable volume of powder. This solution, in contrast to other available designs, does not require compressible sealing materials (such as elastomers, fabric felts or woven cords) to prevent powder leakage from the build compartment. The advantage is that the sealing is more reliable and there is no risk of contamination of the powder by debris of the sealing material.)

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object (206) from powder, the apparatus comprising

A building compartment having at least two wall structures (203, 204, 303, 304, 307, 403, 404, 409, 503, 504, 603, 604) movable relative to each other, which at least partly overlap in the movable direction to provide a variable volume for enclosing powder.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two wall structures (203, 204, 303, 304, 307, 403, 404, 409, 503, 504, 603, 604) are vertical wall structures.

3. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two wall structures (203, 204, 303, 304, 307, 403, 404, 409, 503, 504, 603, 604) are an inner wall structure and an outer wall structure.

4. The arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner wall structure (203, 303, 403, 503, 603) has a fixed position and the outer wall structure (204, 304, 404, 504, 604) is movable, wherein a bottom (208) is attached to the outer wall structure.

5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two wall structures (203, 204, 303, 304, 307, 403, 404, 409, 503, 504, 603, 604) have the geometry of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder.

6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two wall structures (203, 204, 303, 304, 307, 403, 404, 409, 503, 504, 603, 604) have an inner and an outer cylinder geometry.

7. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a third wall structure (409) for reducing an internal unused volume of the three-dimensional object (206) of the build compartment.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for emptying loose powder from the build compartment.

9. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, comprising means (611) for cooling the building compartment.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (611) for heating the building compartment.

11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the three-dimensional object (206) is manufactured layer by layer from the powder.

12. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the three-dimensional object (206) is manufactured by additive manufacturing.

Description of the Related Art

Currently available powder bed additive manufacturing machines typically have a movable table for lowering a continuously built three-dimensional object inside a build compartment during the manufacturing process. To prevent powder leakage, it is common practice to have a compressible sealing material, such as an elastomer, fabric felt or braided rope, between the movable table and the build compartment surrounding the powder and the three-dimensional object. In such machines, there is often a problem of powder leakage due to poor sealing. This may be due to, for example, challenging conditions in the machine (e.g., friction, heat, vacuum, radiation, etc.) causing the sealing material to degrade and lose its sealing properties. Another problem is that powders and three-dimensional objects may be contaminated with debris from degraded seals. Such contamination may reduce the material properties of the three-dimensional object and may also make it impossible to reuse excess powder from the build compartment.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from powder, comprising a build compartment with at least two wall structures movable relative to each other, which wall structures at least partly overlap in the movable direction, thereby providing a variable volume to enclose the powder.

In an embodiment, the at least two wall structures are vertical wall structures.

In an embodiment, the at least two wall structures are an inner wall structure and an outer wall structure.

In an embodiment, the inner wall structure has a fixed position and the outer wall structure is movable, wherein a bottom is attached to the outer wall structure.

In an embodiment, the two wall structures have the geometry of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder.

In an embodiment, the two wall structures have the geometry of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a third wall structure for reducing an internal unused volume of the three-dimensional object of the build compartment.

In an embodiment, the device comprises means for emptying loose powder from said build compartment.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for cooling said build chamber.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for heating said build chamber.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional object is manufactured layer by layer from the powder.

In an embodiment, the three-dimensional object is manufactured by additive manufacturing.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the present invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which will first be described briefly.