Spreader roller for additive manufacturing
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsWilliam Winters, Wesley R. Schalk, Matthew A. Shepherd, Matt G. Driggers, Justin M. Roman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a temperature control system for a spreader roller in an additive manufacturing machine includes: a first duct to carry air to an air passage through the roller; a second duct to carry air away from the air passage through the roller; a fan to move air through the ducts; a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the roller; and a controller to control a flow of air through the ducts based on a temperature sensed by the sensor.
Claims17
A temperature control system for a spreader roller in an additive manufacturing machine, the temperature control system comprising:
- a first duct to carry cooling air to an air passage through the roller;
- a second duct to carry the cooling air away from the air passage through the roller;
- a fan to move the cooling air through the ducts;
- a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the roller;
- and
- a controller to control a flow of the cooling air through the ducts based on a temperature sensed by the sensor.
A system to spread build material over a work area in an additive manufacturing machine, the system comprising:
- a first mechanism to rotate a spreader roller;
- a second mechanism to circulate a cooling gas through the roller to maintain a uniform temperature along a length of the roller;
- and
- a third mechanism to spread build material over the work area with the roller while the roller is rotated and the cooling gas is circulated through the roller.
A process to spread powdered build material over a work area in an additive manufacturing machine, comprising:
- circulating cooling air through a rotating roller;
- and
- while circulating the cooling air through the rotating roller, spreading powdered build material over the work area with the rotating roller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.