Abstract

Examples of an electron gun with a moving cathode station and a moving anode station are described. The moving cathode has a driver that moves the station and comprises a plurality of cathodes with a plurality of bias cups to control a thermal electron emission region by applying a bias voltage to the bias cup. The moving anode station comprises a plurality of anodes and has driver to move the anode station such that a position of each anode is synchronized with a positioned of a respective matching pair of cathode and bias cup. A controller that is in communication with the anode and cathode moving stations controls the bias voltage and the drivers to control the amount of thermal electrons and to synchronize and align a predetermined cathode with a predetermined anode thus controlling the size and parameters of the generated electron beam.

IPC Classes  ?

• H01J 37/067 - Replacing parts of gunsMutual adjustment of electrodes
• B33Y 10/00 - Processes of additive manufacturing
• H01J 37/147 - Arrangements for directing or deflecting the discharge along a desired path

Abstract

Examples of a laser additive manufacturing system are described. The system comprises a laser configured to generate a laser beam, a fiber optic coupled to the laser to transmit the laser beam to a laser optic head that is coupled to the fiber optic and comprises a focus lens to focus the light beam. The laser optic head is configured to slide along a sliding mechanism in X-direction. A powder feeder is used to continuously move in Y-direction and dispense an uniform layer of powdered material onto a powder bad that is positioned on a build plate of the building chamber. The build plate is configured to move in Z-direction. The light beam generated by the laser is focused using the laser optic head onto a small region of the powder bed where the powdered material is positioned producing small volumes of melt pools that are then cooled and a new layer of powdered material is dispensed over it.

IPC Classes  ?

• B29C 64/364 - Conditioning of environment
• B23K 26/06 - Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
• B23K 26/12 - Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring in a special environment or atmosphere, e.g. in an enclosure
• B29C 64/153 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only solid materials using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• B29C 64/232 - Driving means for motion along the axis orthogonal to the plane of a layer
• B29C 64/245 - Platforms or substrates
• B29C 64/25 - Housings, e.g. machine housings
• B29C 64/268 - Arrangements for irradiation using laser beamsArrangements for irradiation using electron beams [EB]
• B29C 64/321 - Feeding
• B33Y 10/00 - Processes of additive manufacturing
• B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
• B33Y 70/10 - Composites of different types of material, e.g. mixtures of ceramics and polymers or mixtures of metals and biomaterials

Abstract

Examples of an apparatus for dispensing a powdered material are described. The dispensing apparatus comprises a dispenser with an inlet and a dispensing opening, and a vibrating system that is in communication to the dispenser and which provides a continuing periodic oscillation of the dispenser. The apparatus further comprises a controller in communication with a driver of the vibrating system to control a frequency, amplitude and duration of the vibrations such that the powdered material continuously flows out through the dispensing opening during vibration of the dispenser.

IPC Classes  ?

• B22F 12/57 - Metering means
• B22F 10/28 - Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM]
• B22F 10/368 - Temperature or temperature gradient, e.g. temperature of the melt pool
• B22F 10/85 - Data acquisition or data processing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• B22F 12/13 - Auxiliary heating means to preheat the material
• B22F 12/41 - Radiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam
• B22F 12/43 - Radiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam pulsedRadiation means characterised by the type, e.g. laser or electron beam frequency modulated
• B22F 12/50 - Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads
• B22F 12/58 - Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads for changing the material composition, e.g. by mixing
• B22F 12/90 - Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors
• B29C 64/343 - Metering
• B29C 64/393 - Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
• B33Y 40/10 - Pre-treatment
• B33Y 50/02 - Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes

Goods & Services

(1) Metals in powder form for use in machines for electron beam sintering, electron beam melting, laser sintering (2) Machines for electron beam sintering, electron beam melting, laser sintering; Dispensers for dispensing powders for electron beam sintering, electron beam melting and laser sintering machines; 3D printers, machines and machine parts for electron beam sintering, electron beam melting, laser sintering. (1) Custom 3D printing for others of parts, workpieces, prototypes, models, shapes, tools and other kinds of three-dimensional objects with powders and dispersions, especially by means of electron beam sintering, electron beam melting, laser sintering; Custom manufacture of powders for 3D printing by means of electron beam sintering, electron beam melting, laser sintering.