US 11,885,000 B2 · In situ thermal treatment for PBF systems

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for in situ thermal treatment for PBF systems are provided. An apparatus for a PBF-based 3-D printer can include a heating element for heating a gas, wherein the heated gas is delivered via at least one port of the 3-D printer to conduct heat treatment on a build piece during printing. A method for thermal treatment in a PBF-based 3-D printer can include heating a gas and delivering it via at least one port of the 3-D printer arranged proximate a build piece to conduct heat treatment during printing. An apparatus for a PBF-based 3-D printer can include a temperature-regulating element for changing a temperature of a gas, at least one channel for delivering the gas to a plurality of ports, and a controller for determining gas temperatures and durations of application of the gas via different ones of the plurality of the ports.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A powder bed fusion (PBF)-based three-dimensional (3-D) printer, comprising:

a depositor configured to deposit layers of print material in a chamber of the 3-D printer forming a print bed;
and
a gas source for delivering a gas,
wherein the gas is delivered to at least one port of the 3-D printer, the port positioned below at least one layer of the layers of the print material of the print bed and configured to deliver the gas to the print material below the at least one layer, to conduct thermal treatment on a build piece in the print bed.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

In situ thermal treatment for PBF systems

Life of this patent

In situ thermal treatment for PBF systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23