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US 12,576,589 B2Granted
Print and recoat assemblies for additive manufacturing systems and methods for using the same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJohn Sterle, Vadim Bromberg, Carlos H. Bonilla, Tyler Andrew Griffith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for forming an object includes moving an assembly including an energy source, heating an initial layer of build material (31i, 31s, 31, 3, 50) positioned in a build area via forced convection around the energy source of the assembly, and spreading build material (31) on the build area, thereby depositing a second layer of build material (31i, 31s, 31, 3, 50) over the initial layer of build material (31 i, 31s, 31, 3, 50).
Claims19
A method for forming an object, the method comprising:
- moving at least one of a print assembly and a recoat assembly comprising an energy source, the energy source provided at least partially within an energy source enclosure of a housing assembly coupled to the at least one of the print assembly and the recoat assembly, the housing assembly including an upper housing defining a duct in communication with the energy source, and a plate separating the upper housing from the energy source enclosure, a plurality of apertures formed in the plate between the upper housing and the energy source enclosure;
- heating, via a pump of an air distribution system in communication with the energy source enclosure, an initial layer of build material positioned in a build area via forced convection around the energy source of the at least one of a print assembly and a recoat assembly, the pump of the air distribution system configured to pass a gas to the energy source enclosure to transfer thermal energy from the energy source;
- and
- spreading build material on the build area, thereby depositing a second layer of build material over the initial layer of build material.
1 more element
A method for forming an object, the method comprising:
- moving at least one of a print assembly and a recoat assembly in a coating direction over a supply receptacle comprising build material, wherein the at least one of a print assembly and the recoat assembly comprises a powder spreading member;
- contacting the build material in the supply receptacle with the powder spreading member;
- irradiating, with an energy source coupled to the at least one of a print assembly and the recoat assembly, an initial layer of build material positioned in a build receptacle, the energy source provided at least partially within an energy source enclosure of a housing assembly coupled to the at least one of the print assembly and the recoat assembly, the housing assembly including an upper housing defining a duct in communication with the energy source, and a plate separating the upper housing from the energy source enclosure, a plurality of apertures formed in the plate between the upper housing and the energy source enclosure;
- and
- passing a gas, via a pump of an air distribution system in communication with the energy source enclosure, to the energy source enclosure to transfer thermal energy from the energy source, thereby heating the initial layer of build material positioned in the build receptacle via forced convection.
2 more elements
An additive manufacturing system comprising:
- at least one of a print assembly and a recoat assembly;
- a housing assembly coupled to the at least one of the print assembly and the recoat assembly, the housing assembly comprising:
- an energy source enclosure;
- an upper housing defining a duct in communication with the energy source enclosure;
- and
- a plate separating the energy source enclosure from the upper housing, a plurality of apertures formed in the plate between the upper housing and the energy source enclosure;
- an energy source positioned at least partially within the energy source enclosure;
- and
- an air distribution system in communication with the energy source enclosure, wherein the air distribution system comprises a pump structurally configured to pass a gas to the energy source enclosure to transfer thermal energy from the energy source.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.