Additive manufacturing system employing pre-fabricated component bracing
AssigneeIncodema3D, LLC
InventorScott Volk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is disclosed for use in manufacturing a component. The system may have a build chamber, a stage movable within the build chamber, and a recoater configured to deposit a layer of powdered material on top of the stage. The system may also have an energy source configured to direct a beam onto the layer of powdered material in a pattern corresponding to a shape of the component, and a brace fabricated before manufacturing of the component. The brace may be located adjacent a periphery of the component and extend from the stage toward the recoater.
Claims12
A system for manufacturing a component, comprising:
- a build chamber;
- a stage movable within the build chamber;
- a recoater configured to deposit a layer of powdered material on top of the stage;
- an energy source configured to direct a beam onto the layer of powdered material in a pattern corresponding to a shape of the component;
- and
- a brace fabricated before manufacturing of the component and having a fixed size during the manufacturing of the component, the brace extending from the stage toward the recoater and being configured to surround the component and not to contact the component as the component is being manufactured.
A system for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of components, comprising:
- a build chamber;
- a stage movable within the build chamber;
- a recoater configured to deposit a layer of powdered material on top of the stage;
- an energy source configured to direct a beam onto the layer of powdered material in a pattern corresponding to shapes of the plurality of components;
- and
- a plurality of braces fabricated before manufacturing of the plurality of components and having a fixed size during the manufacturing of the components, each of the plurality of braces being located adjacent a periphery of a corresponding one of the plurality of components and extending from the stage toward the recoater,
- wherein:
- the stage includes a plurality of openings;
- each of the plurality of braces is configured to slide through a corresponding one of the plurality of openings as the stage moves toward the recoater and is configured to surround a corresponding component and not to contact the corresponding component as the components are being manufactured;
- each of the plurality of braces extends a first distance away from the stage that is less than a second distance between an exposed surface of the layer and the stage;
- and
- a gap is maintained between each of the plurality of braces and the periphery of the corresponding one of the plurality components.
A system for manufacturing a component, comprising:
- a build chamber;
- a stage movable within the build chamber;
- a recoater configured to deposit a layer of powdered material on top of the stage;
- an energy source configured to direct a beam onto the layer of powdered material in a pattern corresponding to a shape of the component;
- and
- a brace fabricated before manufacturing of the component and having a fixed size during the manufacturing of the component, the brace extending from the stage toward the recoater and configured to surround the component as the component is being manufactured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.