Platform device
AssigneeArcam AB
InventorCalle Hellestam
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a platform device (4) for forming a three-dimensional article (2) in an additive manufacturing machine layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers (3), which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the three-dimensional article. The platform device (4) has a support member (5) with a surface (6) for receiving powder. The support member (5) is rotatable about a first rotation axis (13) extending in a direction (15) substantially perpendicular to the surface (6). The support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) are rotatable about a second rotation axis (14) arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis (13).
Claims20
A platform device (4) for forming a three-dimensional article (2) in an additive manufacturing machine layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers (3), which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the three-dimensional article, the platform device (4) comprising a support member (5) with a surface (6) for receiving powder, the support member (5) being rotatable about a first rotation axis (13) extending in a direction (15) substantially perpendicular to the surface (6), the support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) further being rotatable about a second rotation axis (14) arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis (13).
A method for forming a three-dimensional article (2) in an additive manufacturing machine layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers (3), which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the three-dimensional article, the method comprising the steps of:
- using a platform device (4) having a support member (5) with a surface (6) for receiving powder,
- rotating the support member about a first rotation axis (13) having an extension direction substantially perpendicular to the surface (6), and
- rotating the support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) about a second rotation axis (14) being arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis.
An apparatus (1) for forming a three-dimensional article (2) layer by layer by successive fusion of selected areas of powder layers (3), which selected areas correspond to successive layers of the three-dimensional article, the apparatus comprising:
- a control unit;
- and
- a platform device (4) comprising a support member (5) with a surface (6) for receiving powder;
- and
- a control unit,
- wherein the control unit is configured for:
- rotating the support member (5) about a first rotation axis (13) extending in a direction (15) substantially perpendicular to the surface (6), and
- rotating the support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) about a second rotation axis (14) arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis (13).
A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising one or more executable portions configured for:
- controlling, via a control unit (40), rotation of a support member (5) of a platform device (4) for forming a three-dimensional article (2) about a first rotation axis (13), the first rotation axis having an extension direction substantially perpendicular to the surface (6),
- controlling, via the control unit (40), rotation of the support member (5) and the first rotation axis (13) about a second rotation axis (14) that is arranged substantially in parallel with and off-set to the first rotation axis;
- and
- controlling, via the control unit (40), linear movement of the support member (5) in a direction (15) in parallel with the first rotation axis (13).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.