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US 12,491,561 B2Granted
Method and electron beam equipment for processing powdered materials at high acceleration voltages
AssigneePro-Beam AG & Co. KGAA
InventorsThorsten Lower, Alexander Klassen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are provided for processing a powdery material with an electron beam system for additive manufacturing of components, which solve the problem of electrostatic powder expulsion and significantly reduce process times. This effect is achieved by using acceleration voltages of 90 kV or greater in the preheating step and/or in the melting step.
Claims12
A method for processing a powdery material comprising the following steps:
- a1) Providing an electron beam system comprising
- a device for receiving a powder bed of powdery material to be processed, and
- an electron beam generator configured to direct an electron beam to laterally different locations of the powder bed;
- b1) Applying a powder layer;
- c1) Preheating the powdery material of the powder layer with the electron beam;
- wherein
- the electron beam in step c1) is operated with an acceleration voltage of greater than 120 kV, and the electron beam system comprises an X-ray shield, which is configured in such a way that despite the acceleration voltage of greater than 120 kV, the X-ray radiation outside the electron beam system stays below a limit.
4 more elements
A method for processing a powdery material comprising the following steps:
- a2) providing an electron beam system comprising
- a device for receiving a powder bed of powdery material to be processed, and
- an electron beam generator configured to direct an electron beam to laterally different locations of the powder bed;
- b2) applying a powder layer;
- c2) melting of at least part of the powder layer with the electron beam;
- wherein
- the electron beam in step c) is operated with an acceleration voltage of greater than 120 kV, and the electron beam system comprises an X-ray shield, which is configured in such a way that despite the acceleration voltage of greater than 120 kV, the X-ray radiation outside the electron beam system stays below a limit and
- no preheating of the powder layer takes place between step b2) and step c2).
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.