UNPACKING DEVICE ALLOWING RESIDUAL RAW MATERIAL POWDER REMOVAL

• Main Authors: Hermann, André, Haack, Bodo, Hübinger, Karsten, Körner, Peter, Mersch, Jonas, Krol, Toni Adam, Wiesner, Andreas, Berggreen, Kaj Merten, Wilkes, Jan, Müller, Simon
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 02.05.2018
• Subjects: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OFTHREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVEAGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING,STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CASTING; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING METALLIC POWDER; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

An unpacking device (28) for use in an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the unpacking device (28) comprises a holding device (32) which is configured to hold a building chamber arrangement (26). The building chamber arrangement (26) comprises a building chamber (20) accommodating a carrier (16), wherein the carrier (16) is configured to receive a three-dimensional work piece (18) produced from a raw material powder by an additive layering process. An engagement unit (38) of the unpacking device (28) is configured to engage with the carrier (16) of the building chamber arrangement (26). A moving mechanism (48) is configured to cause a relative movement between the building chamber (20) and the engagement unit (38) with the carrier (16) engaged therewith so as to allow a separation of the carrier (16) with a three-dimensional work piece (18) received thereon from the building chamber (20). Finally, the unpacking device (28) comprises a raw material powder removal mechanism (50) which is configured to cause at least one of a vibration and a rotation of the engagement unit (38) with the carrier (16) engaged therewith so as to remove residual raw material powder (24) from the three-dimensional work piece (18) received on the carrier (16).