Powder bed fusion additive printer architecture for annular geometries

Abstract

A annular build plate for a powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing system includes an inner radius wall and an outer radius wall. The inner radius wall and the outer radius wall define a build area on the annular build plate between the inner radius wall and the outer radius wall. The annular build plate is configured to be positioned on a build piston and to move in concert with the build piston, which is configured rotate around a drive shaft in a continuous circular motion and to translate up and down with respect to the annular build plate. A method of making an annular part with a PBF additive manufacturing system includes installing in the PBF additive manufacturing system an annular build plate having an inner radius wall and an outer radius wall. Build powder is delivered, with a powder delivery mechanism, to the build area to form a build powder bed and the build powder in the build powder bed is distributed, with a recoater, to provide even distribution of the build powder. Energy is directed from an optical array positioned over the build area to the build powder to form a melt pool. The build powder from the melt pool is selectively sintered, using energy from the optical array, to form a layer of a consolidated part.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.