Additive manufacturing heating control systems and methods
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsBruce Patrick Albrecht, Christopher Hsu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part, and a controller configured to control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material.
Claims17
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- an additive manufacturing tool comprising a mixer configured to receive and process at least one metallic anchoring material from a feeder to form one or more electrodes;
- a power source configured to selectively provide DC or AC power output to the electrode in a controlled waveform to melt the electrode into a plurality of droplets to build up a part;
- a temperature control device configured to control a temperature of the part at least by selectively applying heat to the part to control a cooling rate of the part;
- and
- a controller comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to control the feeder, the mixer, the power source, and the temperature control device, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of composition, formation, and individual application of each droplet of the plurality of droplets to the part independent from control of the temperature of the part via the temperature control device, such that the plurality of droplets builds up the part.
An additive manufacturing system comprising:
- one or more feeders configured to supply a plurality of metallic anchoring materials to an additive manufacturing tool that comprises a mixer configured to receive and process the plurality of metallic anchoring material from a feeder to form an electrode;
- a power source configured to selectively provide DC or AC power output to the electrode in a controlled waveform to melt the electrode into a plurality of droplets to build up a part with a plurality of micro-deposits, wherein the additive manufacturing tool is configured to form each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits from a respective droplet, and the respective droplet comprises one or more metallic anchoring materials of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials;
- a temperature control device comprising a heating element, wherein the temperature control device is configured to heat the part and control a cooling rate of the part at least by selectively applying heat to the part;
- and
- a controller comprising executable instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to control the feeder, the mixer, the power source, and the temperature control device, composition of the respective droplet of each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits, and an individual application of the respective droplet of each micro-deposit of the plurality of micro-deposits with the additive manufacturing tool, such that the plurality of micro-deposits builds up the part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.