Computerized equipment feeding powder for laser-sintering to layers or components, includes replaceable cartridges, controlled ultrasonic agitators, mixer and three-dimensional manipulator

• Main Authors: TOLKSDORF, DANIEL, SCHEIBE, ANDREAS, WESTKAEMPER, ENGELBERT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; German
• Published: 14.08.2008
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CASTING; CEMENTS; CERAMICS; CHEMISTRY; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDINGMATERIALS; CONCRETE; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; LIME, MAGNESIA; MACHINE TOOLS; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; REFRACTORIES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SLAG; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM; WORKING METALLIC POWDER; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Various materials (21.1, 21.2) exhibiting differing properties when sintered, held in chambers (31.1, 31.2), are mixed (28) downstream, producing a powder (27) fed to a dosing unit (29.1, 29.2). The dosing unit permits the mixing ratio to be varied. The chambers consist of one or more replaceable cartridges (32). Power is mixed with controlled feedrate from two or more of the chambers, under excitation by vibrators (33.1, 33.2) which do not directly contact the chambers. The excitation is capable of segregating the powder and/or inducing movement in a particular direction. The vibrators are ultrasonic and/or piezoelectric. Each chamber is coupled with one ultrasonic transmitter. A mixing chamber (39) is included; it too, is excited, causing mixed powder delivery through an opening (43) in the mixing chamber. The opening includes an adjustable aperture plate to control its size. A channel from each chamber introduces powder into the mixing chamber. Each channel is excited. A three-axis manipulator (38) with stepper motors, moves the equipment to the predetermined coating location (22) for the laser sintering unit (23). Control equipment (40) operates an actuator regulating powder flow to the mixer. The controller is coupled to and controlled with the help of, a knowledge-based databank (51). This contains inter-related, widely-ranging, technological and mechanical powder- and resulting sintered coating properties. Further salient features include storage of component-specific data including CAD data. Mathematical algorithms are used to derive and store data controlling formation of particular types of sintered layer. Various geometric data concerning the layers and components is also generated and stored. The controller synchronizes movements and operations. An independent claim IS INCLUDED FOR the corresponding supply method. Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung (20) und ein Verfahren zum Zuführen von sinterbarem Pulver (21.1, 21.2) auf eine Auftragsstelle (22) einer Lasersintereinrichtung (23) zur Herstellung von aus dem mittels eines Lasers (25) behandelten Pulver hergestellten Schichten und/oder Bauteilen (26). Die Vorrichtung (20) weist eine Mischeinrichtung (28) zum Mischen von unterschiedlichen Pulverwerkstoffen (21.1, 21.2) zu einer sinterbaren Pulvermischung (27) und wenigstens eine Dosiervorrichtung (29.1, 29.2) zum Dosieren wenigstens eines Pulverwerkstoffes (21.1, 21.2) der unterschiedlichen Pulverwerkstoffe (21.1, 21.2) auf, die mit der Mischeinrichtung (28) verbunden ist, wobei das Mischungsverhältnis der unterschiedlichen Pulverwerkstoffe (21.1, 21.2) in der Mischeinrichtung (28) mit Hilfe der Dosiervorrichtung (29.1, 29.2) einstellbar ist bzw. eingestellt wird.