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US 10,894,299 B2Granted
Fixed bed large scale additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJustin Mamrak, MacKenzie Ryan Redding, Thomas Graham Spears, Mark Kevin Meyer
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatuses for additive manufacturing using foil-based build materials. Such methods and apparatuses eliminate several drawbacks of conventional powder-based methods, including powder handling, recoater jams, and health risks. In addition, the present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for compensation of in-process warping of build plates and foil-based build materials.
Claims11
An apparatus for additive manufacturing of an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a sealed build environment;
- a vertically movable build plate having a build face within the sealed build environment;
- a first airlock in selective communication with the sealed build environment;
- a second airlock in selective communication with the sealed build environment;
- a foil delivery unit positioned above the build face and configured to extend foil above the build face, the foil delivery unit comprising a foil supply positioned within the first airlock and a foil collector positioned in the second airlock, and
- a radiation emission directing device configured to direct radiation onto the extended foil,
- wherein the build plate is configured to move the build face or the object thereon into contact with the extended foil from the foil delivery unit, so that the foil is capable of being irradiated and incorporated into the object.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.