# US 11,440,256 B2 · Stackable build plates for additive manufacturing powder handling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,256 B2 - Document ID: US11440256B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/440,320 - Filed: 2019-06-13 - Published: 2019-12-19 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-15 - Assignees: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Applicants: Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Inventors: Gearoid Walsh; Eoin Kendall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440256B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B22F 10/40: Structures for supporting workpieces or articles during manufacture and removed afterwards - B22F 12/30: Platforms or substrates - B22F 12/33: translatory in the deposition plane - B29C 64/176: Sequentially - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B22F 10/34: of powder characteristics, e.g. density, oxidation or flowability - B22F 10/68: Cleaning or washing - B22F 12/86: Serial processing with multiple devices grouped - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract A three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a base, a first build plate, and a second build plate. The base includes a build platform. The first build plate is attached to the base and is movable in vertical directions to a position spaced vertically from the build platform. The second build plate is supported by the first build plate such that the second build plate is spaced vertically from the first build plate. A plurality of objects is fabricated by the apparatus. A first object is fabricated on the first build plate. The first build plate is moved vertically. A second object is fabricated on the second build plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A three-dimensional (3-D) printing apparatus comprising: a base including a build platform and a build chamber wall extending vertically from the build platform to define a build chamber; a first build plate device comprising a first build plate attached to the base and movable in the build chamber in vertical directions to a position spaced vertically from a plane defined by the build platform; a first support shaft; and a second build plate device comprising a second build plate movable in the build chamber and supported by the first build plate via the first support shaft such that an entirety of the second build plate is spaced vertically from the first build plate, the first build plate and the second plate thereby being configured to simultaneously support fabricated objects via contact with the fabricated objects, wherein the first build plate device and the second build plate device are in abutment with the build chamber wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shaft supported by the base and configured to move the first build plate in the vertical directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first support shaft extends between the first build plate and the second build plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second build plate is removable from the first support shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second build plate includes a recess, and wherein the first support shaft extends into the recess. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first support shaft is a fastener having a shank and a head extending from the shank, and wherein the head is receivable in the recess such that the head is irremovable from a portion of the recess in a direction transverse to a plane defined by an opening into the recess. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second build plate and the first support shaft are threaded such that the first support shaft is configured for threaded engagement to the second build plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a fastener, wherein the fastener attaches to the first support shaft through the second build plate to maintain the position of the second build plate relative to the first support shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a third build plate supported by the second build plate such that the third build plate is spaced vertically from the second build plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first support shaft attaches to either one or both of a first side extending between a top and a bottom of the first build plate and a second side extending between a top and a bottom of the second build plate, the top of the first build plate facing the bottom of the second build plate. ### Claim 11 A three-dimensional (3-D) printing system configured for providing a high energy beam for selectively heating metal powder deposited onto build plates within the system, the system comprising: a base including a build platform and a build chamber wall extending vertically from the build platform to define a build chamber; a first build plate attached to the base and movable in the build chamber in vertical directions to a position spaced vertically from a plane defined by the build platform; a second build plate movable in the build chamber and supported by the first build plate; a first set of fabricated objects supported by the first build plate; a second set of fabricated objects supported by the second build plate; a remaining portion of metal powder supported by either one or both of the first build plate and the second build plate remaining after selectively heating, with the high energy beam, a portion of the metal powder to form a respective one or ones of the first set of fabricated objects and the second set of fabricated objects supported by the one or both of the first build plate and the second build plate, wherein the first build plate and the second build plate are adjacent to the build chamber wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the remaining portion of the metal powder is supported by both the first build plate and the second build plate. ### Claim 13 A three-dimensional (3-D) printing apparatus comprising: a base including a build platform and a build chamber wall extending vertically from the build platform to define a build chamber; a first build plate device comprising a first build plate attached to the base and movable in the build chamber in vertical directions to a position spaced vertically from a plane defined by the build platform; a first support shaft; and a second build plate device comprising a second build plate movable in the build chamber and supported by the first build plate via the first support shaft such that a portion of the second build plate is spaced vertically without interruption from the first build plate, the first build plate and the second build plate thereby being configured to simultaneously support fabricated objects via contact with the fabricated objects, wherein the first build plate device and the second build plate device are in abutment with the build chamber wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a shaft supported by the base and configured to move the first build plate in the vertical directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first support shaft extends between the first build plate and the second build plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second build plate is removable from the first support shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second build plate includes a recess, and wherein the first support shaft extends into the recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second build plate and the first support shaft are threaded such that the first support shaft is configured for threaded engagement to the second build plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a fastener, wherein the fastener attaches to the first support shaft through the second build plate to maintain the position of the second build plate relative to the first support shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a third build plate supported by the second build plate such that the third build plate is spaced vertically from the second build plate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first build plate device and the second build plate device each include a seal positioned within respective gaps between the first build plate and the build chamber wall and between the second build plate and the build chamber wall to at least inhibit powder within the 3-D printing apparatus from falling through the respective gaps. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a first seal attached to the first build plate and positioned within a first gap between the first build plate and the build chamber wall to at least inhibit any of the metal powder supported by the first build plate from falling through the first gap; and a second seal attached to the second build plate and positioned within a second gap between the second build plate and the build chamber wall to at least inhibit any of the metal powder supported by the second build plate from falling through the second gap.