Method and device for measuring a powder mass flow for powder cladding
AssigneeDMG MORI Ultrasonic Lasertec GmbH
InventorsBenjamin Bax, Christian Kledwig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The innovation relates to a device and a method for measuring a powder mass flow for powder cladding. Before the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is set by means of a powder mass determining device and a powder mass flow sensor is calibrated on the basis of the setting. Then a powder switch is used to begin the powder cladding without interrupting the delivery of the powder mass. During the powder cladding, the powder mass flow is monitored by means of the powder mass flow sensor.
Claims17
A device (10) for measuring a powder mass flow, comprising:
- at least one powder metering device (11a, 11b) configured to generate a powder mass flow of powder for powder cladding,
- a control unit (20),
- a powder mass flow sensor (14),
- a powder mass determination device (18),
- a powder switch (15), and
- a centrifugal separator, a gravity separator and/or an inertial separator (17) between said powder switch (15) and said powder mass determination device (18) and configured to separate the powder for powder cladding from a gas or gas mixture,
- wherein the powder switch (15) is configured to change a feeding direction of the powder mass flow of powder for powder cladding between the powder mass flow determination device (18) and a process head (16) of a powder cladding unit,
- wherein said at least one powder metering device (11a, 11b) is configured to feed the powder mass of powder for powder cladding via said powder mass flow sensor (14) to the powder mass determination device (18) and to the process head (16), depending on said powder switch (15), and
- wherein said control unit (20) is configured to calibrate said powder mass flow sensor (14) based on a powder mass flow measured by said powder mass determination device (18).
A method for measuring a powder mass flow, comprising the steps of:
- feeding a powder mass of powder for powder cladding,
- separating the powder for powder cladding from a gas or a gas mixture,
- determining the powder mass flow of the fed powder mass of powder for powder cladding after the powder for powder cladding has been separated from the gas or the gas mixture,
- calibrating a powder mass flow sensor as a function of the determined powder mass flow of powder for powder cladding,
- feeding the powder mass of powder for powder cladding with a specified powder mass flow via said powder mass flow sensor to a process head of a powder cladding apparatus, and
- monitoring the powder mass flow using said powder mass flow sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.