Modular metal 3-D printer build plate
AssigneeRelativity Space, Inc.
InventorsSteven Webb, Kristopher Konrath, Twain Glaser, Jeffrey Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machinable 3-D printing build plate that can be assembled from a number of different components into the base for a metallic 3-D printing volume and other 3-D printed parts. The build plate can be assembled into a final structure then machined to the required planar tolerance such that the build quality of the part is maintained throughout the build. Additionally, because the baseline printer support structure and support device are comprised of multiple elements, if one or more goes out of tolerance or requires adjustment to accommodate a new print, it may be easily removed, replaced then machined back to the required tolerances.
Claims20
An additive manufacturing build plate comprising:
- a build structure with a first planar tolerance in a build structure plane;
- and
- a plurality of build plate assemblies, wherein each build plate assembly comprises:
- a build support device coupled to the build structure;
- and
- a machinable build block coupled to the build support device, wherein an outer surface of the machinable build block is machinable to a second planar tolerance while the machinable build block is coupled to the build support device and while the build support device is coupled to the build structure, wherein the second planar tolerance is in an outer surface plane that is substantially parallel to the build structure plane;
- wherein the plurality of build plate assemblies form a substantially continuous build plate surface.
A method for additively manufacturing articles, the method comprising:
- coupling a plurality of machinable build blocks to a respective plurality of build support devices, thereby forming a plurality of build plate assemblies;
- coupling the plurality of build plate assemblies to a build structure with a first planar tolerance in a build structure plane;
- machining a plurality of outer surfaces of the machinable build blocks of the build plate assemblies to a second planar tolerance in an outer surface plane that is substantially parallel to the build structure plane while the plurality of build plate assemblies are coupled to the build structure;
- additively manufacturing a first article on the plurality of outer surfaces of the machinable build blocks of the build plate assemblies;
- removing the first article from the plurality of outer surfaces;
- machining, after removing the first article from the plurality of outer surfaces, the plurality of outer surfaces of the machinable build blocks of the build plate assemblies while the plurality of build plate assemblies are coupled to the build structure;
- coupling the first article to the plurality of outer surfaces;
- and
- additively manufacturing a second article onto the first article.
A method for additively manufacturing an article, the method comprising:
- coupling a plurality of machinable build blocks to a respective plurality of build support devices, thereby forming a plurality of build plate assemblies;
- coupling the plurality of build plate assemblies to the build structure;
- machining a plurality of outer surfaces of the machinable build blocks of the build plate assemblies to a second planar tolerance in an outer surface plane that is substantially parallel to the build structure plane while the plurality of build plate assemblies are coupled to the build structure;
- and
- additively manufacturing an article on the plurality of outer surfaces of the machinable build blocks of the build plate assemblies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.