# US 2019/0315064 A1 · 3D Printing Method and Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315064 A1 - Document ID: US20190315064A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/346,900 - Filed: 2017-10-31 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-02 - Assignees: Aurora Labs Ltd. - Applicants: Aurora Labs Limited - Inventors: David Budge; John Nathan Henry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315064A1 ## CPC - B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B22F 12/44: characterised by the configuration of the radiation means - B22F 12/45: Two or more - B22F 12/52: Hoppers - B22F 12/55: Two or more means for feeding material - B22F 12/67: Blades - B29C 64/205: Means for applying layers - B29C 64/277: using multiple radiation means, e.g. micromirrors or multiple light-emitting diodes [LED] - B29C 64/329: using hoppers - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B22F 10/37: of powder bed aspects, e.g. density - B22F 12/57: Metering means - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A printing apparatus is for printing a three-dimensional object having an operative surface; a plurality of supply hoppers for dispensing powder, the powder being adapted to be melted by an energy beam, wherein the supply hoppers are configured to form a plurality of vertically-aligned powder beds adjacent to one another on the operative surface simultaneously; and an energy source for emitting an energy beam onto each powder bed simultaneously to melt or fuse a topmost layer of the powder bed onto an underlying powder bed layer or substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing apparatus for printing a three-dimensional object, comprising: an operative surface; a plurality of supply hoppers for dispensing powder, the powder being adapted to be melted by an energy beam, wherein the supply hoppers are configured to form a plurality of vertically-aligned powder beds adjacent to one another on the operative surface simultaneously; and an energy source for emitting an energy beam onto each powder bed simultaneously to melt or fuse a topmost layer of the powder bed onto an underlying powder bed layer or substrate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply hoppers are configured to form powder beds in the form of vertically aligned columns on the operative surface, each column forming a cross sectional part of the three-dimensional object. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply hoppers are configured such that powder is dispensed onto each individual powder bed to form successive overlying layers on the powder bed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each supply hopper travels along an oscillating path that is substantially sinusoidal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each supply hopper travels along an oscillating path that conforms to a square, triangular or other wave form. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy splitting means configured to split a single energy beam into a plurality of individual directed energy beams. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a scanning means for determining at least one of a position, velocity and size of one or more particles comprised in powder travelling from the supply hoppers to each powder bed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the scanning means is adapted to measure a volume of powder comprised in each powder bed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the scanning means is adapted to measure a level of powder comprised in each powder bed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the scanning means may be adapted to measure a topology of each powder bed or part thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the scanning means may be adapted to measure a chemical composition of each powder bed or part thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the scanning means may be adapted to measure a temperature of each powder bed or part thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a leveling means for substantially leveling a topmost layer of powder on each powder bed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the leveling means comprises a blade that, in use, periodically scrapes an upper surface of the topmost layer of powder on each powder bed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein leveling means comprises an electrostatic charging means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the leveling means comprises a vibration generation means for applying vibrational forces to loose powder disposed on each powder bed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the vibration generation means comprises a mechanical vibration generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the vibration generation means comprises an ultra-sonic vibration generator. ### Claim 19 A method for printing a three-dimensional object, the method comprising: a. dispensing powder onto an operative surface such that a plurality of powder beds are formed simultaneously on the operative surface adjacent to one another; b. emitting an energy beam onto each powder bed simultaneously to melt or fuse a topmost layer of the powder bed onto an underlying layer or substrate and form part of the three-dimensional object; and c. repeating the steps above until the three-dimensional object is completely formed.