US 10,350,824 B2Granted

Cantilever support of printhead module for additive manufacturing system

AssigneeApplied Materials, Inc.

InventorsHou T. Ng, Raanan Zehavi, Nag B. Patibandla

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Abstract

An additive manufacturing system includes a platen having a top surface to support an object being manufactured, a support that is movable along a vertical axis, an actuator to move the support along the vertical axis, a dispenser to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material over the platen, an energy source configured to fuse at least a portion of the feed material, and a controller. The dispenser and energy source are mounted on the support over the platen such that motion of the support along the vertical axis moves the dispenser and energy source together toward or away from the top surface of the platen. The controller is coupled to the actuator, dispenser and energy source and configured to cause the actuator to move the support to lift the dispenser and actuator away from the top surface after each of the plurality of successive layers is delivered.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An additive manufacturing system, comprising:

a platen having a top surface to support an object being manufactured;
a support positioned on one side of the platen, the support movable along a vertical axis, the support including a side plate;
a first actuator to move the support along the vertical axis;
a dispenser to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material over the platen;
an energy source configured to fuse at least a portion of the feed material;
a frame supporting the dispenser and the energy source, the frame having a side panel fixed to the side plate of the support such that the frame, dispenser and energy source are held in a cantilever arrangement over the platen, wherein the dispenser and energy source are mounted on the frame on the support over the platen such that motion of the support along the vertical axis moves the dispenser and energy source together toward or away from the top surface of the platen;
and
a controller coupled to the first actuator, dispenser and energy source and configured to cause the first actuator to move the support to lift the dispenser and energy source away from the top surface after each of the plurality of successive layers is delivered.

5 more elements

An additive manufacturing system, comprising:

a platen having a top surface to support an object being manufactured;
a support that is movable along a horizontal axis, the support including a vertical plate;
an actuator to move the support along the horizontal axis;
a first frame having a first vertical side panel and a second vertical side panel on a side of the first frame opposite the first vertical side panel, the first vertical side panel of the first frame mechanically fixed to the support;
a second frame having a first vertical side panel mechanically fixed to the second vertical side panel of the first frame such that the first frame and the second frame are held in a cantilever arrangement over the platen;
a first dispenser mounted on the first frame to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material over the platen;
a second dispenser mounted on the second frame to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material over the platen, wherein motion of the support along the horizontal axis scans the first dispenser and second dispenser together along the horizontal axis across the top surface of the platen;
and
an energy source configured to fuse at least a portion of the feed material.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/265,631Filed 14 Sep 2016 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Sep 2015
Published: US 2017/0072643 A116 Mar 2017
Granted: 16 Jul 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification31 codes

B29C 64/153
Using only solid materials: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
B22F 12/48
With translatory movement: in height, e.g. perpendicular to the deposition plane
B22F 12/55
Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads: two or more means for feeding material
B29C 64/209
Means for applying layers: heads; Nozzles