# US 11,993,008 B2 · Method and apparatus for additive manufacturing

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- Number: US 11,993,008 B2
- Document ID: US11993008B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/509,562
- Filed: 2021-10-25
- Published: 2022-02-10
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-29
- Assignees: Arcam AB
- Applicants: Arcam AB
- Inventors: Calle Hellestam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993008B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
- B22F 3/1017: {Multiple heating or additional steps (B22F3/101 takes precedence)}
- B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
- B22F 10/362: for preheating
- B22F 12/37: Rotatable
- B23K 26/0823: {Devices involving rotation of the workpiece}
- B23K 26/083: {Devices involving movement of the workpiece in at least one axial direction}
- B29C 64/20: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C 64/241: for rotary motion
- B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40)
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- B22F 10/32: of the atmosphere, e.g. composition or pressure in a building chamber
- B22F 10/36: of energy beam parameters
- B22F 12/13: to preheat the material
- B22F 12/52: Hoppers
- B22F 12/55: Two or more means for feeding material
- B22F 12/90: Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- 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
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed on a support structure, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one model of the three-dimensional article, lowering the support structure a predetermined distance and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure, rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at selected locations of the first powder layer, the at least one first energy beam source causing the first powder layer on the stationary support structure which is stationary to fuse in the selected locations according to the model to form first portions of the three-dimensional article.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the apparatus comprising:
a selectively rotatable support structure;
at least one first energy beam;
at least one control unit with a computer model of the three-dimensional article stored thereon, the control unit being configured for:
moving the support structure a predetermined distance in z-direction and rotating the support structure a predetermined angle in a first direction before applying a first powder layer covering the lowered and rotated support structure,
rotating the support structure the predetermined angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction before directing the at least one first energy beam from at least one first energy beam source at selected locations for fusing the first powder layer,
directing the at least one first energy beam from the at least one first energy beam source at the selected locations according to the model for fusing the first powder layer on the support structure, which is stationary, for forming first portions of the three-dimensional article, and
repeating the moving, rotating, and directing steps until the three-dimensional article is finished.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder layer is provided by a powder distributor, which powder distributor is pushing a predetermined amount of powder to be applied in front of the powder distributor over and above the support structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is a horizontal plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first energy beam is at least one laser beam and/or at least one electron beam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured for preheating the first powder layer before fusing the first powder layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured for preheating performed by using the at least one first energy beam source also used for fusing the powder layer.