US 12,565,003 B2 · Techniques for powder delivery in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

Abstract

Techniques are described for consistently moving powder from a hopper into a trough for subsequent delivery into a build area of an additive fabrication system. A powder conveyer may be arranged at least partially within the hopper and configured to be actuated to transfer powder to the trough. The powder conveyer may be formed as a screw conveyor, for example. Such techniques do not require complex closed-loop control systems and may be effective irrespective of the flowability of the powder. In at least some cases, there may be no production of excess powder because the amount of powder that is metered into the trough may be precisely controlled to be the amount needed for recoating.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A powder delivery apparatus for an additive fabrication system, the powder delivery apparatus comprising:

a hopper configured to hold a powder;
a trough adjacent to a build area of the additive fabrication system and configured to receive powder from the hopper, wherein the hopper is arranged to receive powder overflowing from the trough into the hopper;
a powder conveyor arranged at least partially within the hopper and configured to convey powder from the hopper into the trough;
an electro-optical sensor configured to produce at least one signal indicative of a level of the powder in the trough;
and
at least one processor configured to control motion of the powder conveyor based on the at least one signal produced by the electro-optical sensor to control the level of the powder in the trough.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Techniques for powder delivery in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

Life of this patent

Techniques for powder delivery in additive fabrication and related systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20