U.S. patent application number 15/321002 was filed with the patent office on 2017-07-13 for consolidating a build material substrate for additive manufacturing.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to James Elmer ABBOTT, JR..
Application Number | 20170197366 15/321002 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55078868 |
Filed Date | 2017-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170197366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ABBOTT, JR.; James Elmer |
July 13, 2017 |
CONSOLIDATING A BUILD MATERIAL SUBSTRATE FOR ADDITIVE
MANUFACTURING
Abstract
In one example, a non-transitory processor readable medium with
instructions thereon that when executed cause an additive
manufacturing machine to consolidate powdered build material in a
volume of a substrate of powdered build material to form a
consolidated volume of substrate.
Inventors: |
ABBOTT, JR.; James Elmer;
(Corvallis, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hewlett-Packard Development
Company, L.P.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
55078868 |
Appl. No.: |
15/321002 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
July 16, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2014/046892 |
371 Date: |
December 21, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 2948/92571
20190201; B29C 64/386 20170801; G05B 2219/49007 20130101; B29C
64/40 20170801; B29C 48/02 20190201; B29C 48/92 20190201; B33Y
10/00 20141201; G05B 2219/35134 20130101; B29C 48/266 20190201;
B29C 64/165 20170801; B33Y 50/00 20141201; B29C 64/182 20170801;
B29C 64/205 20170801; B29C 64/393 20170801; B33Y 30/00 20141201;
G05B 19/4099 20130101; B33Y 50/02 20141201 |
International
Class: |
B29C 67/00 20060101
B29C067/00; G05B 19/4099 20060101 G05B019/4099; B33Y 50/02 20060101
B33Y050/02; B33Y 10/00 20060101 B33Y010/00; B33Y 30/00 20060101
B33Y030/00 |
Claims
1. A non-transitory processor readable medium having instructions
thereon that when executed cause an additive manufacturing machine
to consolidate powdered build material in a volume of a substrate
of powdered build material to form a consolidated volume of
substrate.
2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to form a
consolidated volume of substrate include instructions to: heat
unconsolidated powdered build material in the substrate to a
temperature at least as high as a boiling point of a liquid binder;
and then apply the liquid binder to a volume of heated
substrate.
3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions to form a
consolidated volume of substrate include instructions to: apply a
light-curable liquid binder to an unheated, unconsolidated powdered
build material in the substrate; and then expose the substrate to
light where binder was applied to the build material.
4. The medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions include
instructions to: form a layer of unconsolidated powdered build
material on the substrate; and solidify powdered build material in
the layer within a perimeter of the consolidated volume of
substrate to form a slice
5. The medium of claim 4, wherein the instructions to solidify
include instructions to: dispense a coalescing agent on to powdered
build material in the layer in a pattern to form patterned build
material; and expose the patterned build material to light.
6. A computer program product that includes the processor readable
medium of claim 1.
7. An additive manufacturing machine controller that includes the
processor readable medium of claim 1.
8. An additive manufacturing process, comprising: forming a
substrate of unconsolidated powdered build material; consolidating
powdered build material in a volume of the substrate to form a
consolidated dry volume of substrate; forming a layer of powdered
build material on the consolidated volume of substrate; and
solidifying powdered build material in the layer to form a
slice.
9. The process of claim 8, wherein the consolidating includes:
heating dry powdered build material in the substrate including the
volume of the substrate to a temperature at least as high as a
boiling point of a liquid binder; and then applying the liquid
binder to the heated first volume of substrate.
10. The process of claim 8, wherein the consolidating includes:
applying a light-curable liquid binder to an unheated,
unconsolidated powdered build material in the substrate; and then
exposing the substrate to light where binder was applied to the
build material.
11. The process of claim 8, wherein the solidifying includes:
dispensing a coalescing agent on to powdered build material in the
layer in a pattern to form patterned build material; and applying
light energy to the patterned build material.
12. The process of claim 9, wherein the solidifying includes:
dispensing a coalescing agent on to powdered build material in the
layer in a first pattern to form first patterned build material;
dispensing a coalescence modifier agent on to first patterned build
material in a second pattern to form second patterned build
material; and then applying light energy to the first patterned
build material and the second patterned build material.
13. The process of claim 10, comprising separating the slice from
the substrate.
14. The process of claim 8, wherein the consolidating includes:
applying a liquid binder to the volume of substrate; and
evaporating liquid from the volume.
15. The process of claim 14, wherein the evaporating includes
applying the liquid binder to powdered build material in the
substrate that has been heated to a temperature at or above the
boiling point of liquid in the binder.
16. An additive manufacturing machine, comprising: a first device
to layer powdered build material; a second device to dispense a
binder on to build material; a third device to dispense a
coalescing agent on build material; a heater to heat build
material; a light source to apply light energy to build material;
and a controller to execute instructions to: cause the first device
to layer a substrate of build material; cause the heater to heat
build material in the substrate; cause the second device to
dispense a binder on to heated build material in the substrate;
cause the first device to layer build material on the substrate
where the binder has been dispensed; cause the third device to
dispense a coalescing agent on to the layer of build material; and
cause the light source to apply light energy to the layer of build
material where coalescing agent has been dispensed.
17. The machine of claim 16, comprising a fourth device to dispense
a coalescence agent modifier on to build material and wherein the
controller is to execute instructions to cause the fourth device to
dispense a coalescence modifier agent on to the layer of build
material where coalescing agent has been dispensed before applying
light energy to the layer.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Additive manufacturing machines produce 3D
(three-dimensional) objects by building up layers of material. Some
additive manufacturing machines are commonly referred to as "3D
printers" because they often use inkjet or other printing
technology to apply some of the manufacturing materials. 3D
printers and other additive manufacturing machines make it possible
to convert a CAD (computer aided design) model or other digital
representation of an object directly into the physical object.
DRAWINGS
[0002] FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan and section views, respectively,
illustrating an in-process structure for two objects being
manufactured using one example of a build material substrate.
[0003] FIGS. 3 and 4 show one example of the finished objects from
the in-process structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0004] FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views illustrating in-process
structures for two objects being manufactured using other examples
of a build material substrate.
[0005] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of an
additive manufacturing process.
[0006] FIGS. 8-12 are cross sections illustrating one example of an
object being manufactured with the process of FIG. 7.
[0007] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of
consolidating substrate material in the process shown in FIG.
7.
[0008] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating another example of
consolidating substrate build material in the process shown in in
FIG. 7.
[0009] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of
solidifying build material in the process shown in FIG. 7.
[0010] FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a
processor readable medium with instructions to form a build
material substrate during the manufacture of a 3D object, using the
process of FIG. 7 for example, such as might be used with the
additive manufacturing machine of FIG. 17 or with the system of
FIG. 18.
[0011] FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an
additive manufacturing machine implementing a controller with
instructions to form a build material substrate, such as the one
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, during manufacture of a 3D object.
[0012] FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an
additive manufacturing system implementing a CAD computer program
product with instructions to form a build material substrate, such
as the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, during manufacture of a 3D
object.
[0013] The same part numbers designate the same or similar parts
throughout the figures.
DESCRIPTION
[0014] Additive manufacturing machines make a 3D object through the
solidification of one or more layers of a build material. Additive
manufacturing machines make objects based on data in a 3D model of
an object created, for example, with a CAD computer program
product. The model data is processed into slices each defining that
part of a layer or layers of build material to be solidified.
[0015] In some additive manufacturing processes thermal bonding is
used to solidify a powdered build material. The powdered build
material substrate, commonly referred to as a "powder bed", may be
held at an elevated temperature to limit differential shrinkage of
the edge of the first slices (formed in the first layers of build
material) so that each slice stays flat during solidification.
Heating the substrate increases power consumption and cost, and can
alter the characteristics of the powder sufficient to render
otherwise unused powder unfit for recycling back into the
manufacturing process. In a thermal bonding process that uses nylon
12 powder for the build material, for example, it may be necessary
to heat the powder substrate to as high as 150.degree. C. to keep
the edges of the object flat. Testing indicates that heating nylon
12 powder to temperatures above about 120.degree. may make the
powder unfit for reuse.
[0016] A new process has been developed to help stabilize the
powdered build material substrate at a lower temperature. In one
example of the new process, powdered build material in the
substrate is consolidated before layering the object slices. The
first layer of powdered build material is formed on the substrate.
Build material in the first layer within a perimeter of the
consolidated volume of substrate is solidified in the desired
pattern to form the first slice of the object. The consolidated
volume of substrate underlying the powder in the slice pattern
during solidification provides a more stable base compared to an
unconsolidated substrate.
[0017] Substrate may be consolidated, for example, by heating build
material in the substrate to a temperature at least as high as the
boiling point of a liquid binder but lower than a damaging
temperature, and then applying the liquid binder to the heated
volume of substrate. For example, a nylon 12 powdered build
material heated to only about 100.degree. C. and treated with a
latex ink for the binder generates sufficient consolidation of the
treated powder for a more stable base compared to unconsolidated
nylon 12 powder. While the precise stabilization mechanism in the
powder is not known, the nylon 12 powder exhibits more adhesion
after water evaporates from the ink compared to untreated powder.
The treated powder is dry but not as fine grained as untreated
powder. The untreated nylon 12 powder is not damaged by the lower
temperature and, thus, may be recycled for reuse.
[0018] A processor readable medium with instructions for
consolidating the powdered build material substrate during an
additive manufacturing process may be implemented, for example, in
a CAD computer program product, in an object model processor, or in
the controller for the additive manufacturing machine.
[0019] As used in this document: a "binder" means a substance that
consolidates or helps consolidate a powdered build material; a
"liquid binder" means a binder in which the substance that
consolidates or helps consolidate a powdered build material is
liquid and/or the substance is carried in a liquid; a "coalescing
agent" means a substance that causes or helps cause a build
material to coalesce or solidify or to both coalesce and solidify;
a "coalescence modifier agent" means a substance that modifies the
effect of a coalescing agent; "consolidate" means to make stronger
or more stable; "powder" means a dry substance made up of very
small pieces of something; and a "slice" means one or more slices
of a multi-slice object or the object itself for a single slice
object.
[0020] FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan and section views, respectively,
illustrating a first object 10 and a second object 12 being
manufactured using one example of a consolidated substrate volume
14. The finished objects 10 and 12 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In
this example, first object 10 is a single slice star and second
object 12 is a three slice disc. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an
in-process structure 16 is supported on a platform or other support
18 in an additive manufacturing machine (not shown). Structure 16
includes a substrate 20 of build material on platform 18. Substrate
20 includes an unconsolidated volume 22 of powdered build material
and a consolidated volume 14 of build material formed from
unconsolidated powdered build material.
[0021] Star 10 is formed on substrate 20 in a first layer 24 of
powdered build material that has been solidified in the shape of
star 10. Disc 12 is formed on substrate 20 in first, second and
thirds layers 24, 26, 28 of powder build material that have been
successively solidified in the shape of disc 12. Any suitable
powdered build material may be used, including for example metals,
composites, ceramics, glass and polymers, and processed to make the
desired solid object which may be hard or soft, rigid or flexible,
elastic or inelastic. The finished parts 10, 12 shown in FIGS. 3
and 4 are obtained by "uncaking" layers of in-process structure 16
to separate the two objects 10, 12 from substrate 20 and untreated
build material in layers 24-28. While two very simple objects 10,
12 made with just a few layers of build material are shown to
illustrate the use of a consolidated substrate volume 14, a
consolidated substrate volume may be used for complex objects
manufactured in a single layer or in multiple layers.
[0022] Consolidated volume 14 is formed in substrate 20 with a
perimeter 29 that will surround the first few slices of the object
or objects to be formed on substrate 20. Although a rectangular
consolidated volume 14 with a single perimeter surrounding both
objects 10 and 12 is shown, other configurations for consolidated
volume 14 are possible. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, for
example, the perimeter 29 of each consolidated volume 14
corresponds to the shape of each object 10, 12. In the
configuration shown in FIG. 6, for another example, the perimeter
29 of each consolidated volume 14 surrounds only the edge of each
object 10, 12.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of an
additive manufacturing process 100. FIGS. 8-12 are cross sections
illustrating one example of an object 30 (FIG. 10) being
manufactured with process 100 of FIG. 7. Referring to FIGS. 7-12, a
substrate 20 of unconsolidated powdered build material is formed at
block 102 in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 8. Substrate 20 may be formed
on any suitable supporting structure such as a platform 18 shown in
FIG. 1, or on an underlying slice or object formed previously. In
this example, substrate 20 is formed with two layers of
unconsolidated build material of equal thickness, such as might be
formed with the same dispensing device used to form the subsequent
slice layers. Other suitable configurations for substrate 20 are
possible.
[0024] Powdered build material in substrate 20 is consolidated to
form a consolidated volume 14 as shown in FIG. 9 (block 104 in FIG.
7). A layer 24 of unconsolidated powdered build material is formed
on substrate 20 as shown in FIG. 10 (block 106 in FIG. 7) and then
powdered build material in layer 24 within a perimeter of
consolidated substrate volume 14 is solidified in the desired
pattern to form an object slice 30, as shown in FIG. 11 (block 108
in FIG. 7). Slice 30 is separated from substrate 20, for example
after the object is completed (block 110 in FIG. 7). A single slice
object 30 separating from substrate 20 is shown in FIG. 12. While
the exact stabilization mechanism is not known, testing suggests
that consolidated substrate volume 14 under slice layer 24 provides
a "restoring" force at the edge of the slice pattern to help hold
slice 30 flat during solidification, compared to a slice formed on
unconsolidated substrate.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of
consolidating substrate build material at block 104 in FIG. 7.
Referring to FIG. 13, unconsolidated powdered build material in
substrate 20 is heated to a temperature at least as high as the
boiling point of a liquid binder but lower than a temperature
damaging to the build material (block 112). Then the liquid binder
is applied to a heated volume of substrate 20 (block 114). In one
implementation for the process steps illustrated in FIG. 13, a
nylon 12 powdered build material is heated to about 100.degree. C.
and treated with Hewlett-Packard Company's HP881 Latex Ink, for
example by dispensing ink on to the build material in the desired
pattern with an inkjet printhead. The treated nylon 12 powder
exhibits more adhesion after water evaporates from the ink compared
to untreated powder. The consolidated powder is dry but not as fine
grained as unconsolidated powder, and may appear clumpy. The
untreated nylon 12 powder is not damaged at temperatures below
about 120.degree. C. and, thus, may be recycled for reuse.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating another example of
consolidating substrate build material at block 104 in FIG. 7.
Referring to FIG. 14, a light-curable liquid binder is applied to
an unheated, unconsolidated powdered build material in substrate 20
(block 116) and then exposed to light to consolidate a volume of
the substrate where binder was applied to the build material (block
118). In one implementation for the process steps illustrated in
FIG. 14, a polymer powdered build material at room temperature is
treated with a UV (ultraviolet) curable ink such as Hewlett-Packard
Company's HP HDR240 Scitex UV Curable Ink, for example by
dispensing ink on to the build material in the desired pattern with
an inkjet printhead, and then exposed to UV light to cure the ink
and consolidate the polymer powder.
[0027] Other suitable combinations of powdered build material,
binder, temperature and/or light are possible.
[0028] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating one example of
solidifying build material to form the object slice at block 108 in
FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 15, a coalescing agent is selectively
applied to powdered build material layer 26 in a pattern
corresponding to slice 30 (block 120). A coalescence modifier agent
is selectively applied to layer 26 to help define the desired shape
and characteristics of slice 30 (block 122). A coalescence modifier
agent modifies the effect of the coalescing agent and may be
dispensed, for example, along the edge of the coalescence agent to
help reduce the effects of lateral coalescence bleed and improve
the definition of the edges of the slice. In another example, a
modifier agent is dispensed interspersed with the pattern of the
coalescing agent to change the material characteristics of the
slice. The patterned parts of layer 26 are exposed to light to form
slice 30 (block 124 in FIG. 15).
[0029] Suitable coalescing agents include pigments, dyes, polymers
and other substances that have significant light absorption. Carbon
black ink and light absorbing color inks commercially known as
CM997A, CE039A and CE042A available from Hewlett-Packard Company
are suitable coalescing agents with the appropriate light
source.
[0030] Suitable coalescence modifier agents may separate individual
particles of the build material to prevent the particles from
joining together and solidifying as part of the slice. Examples of
this type of coalescence modifier agent include colloidal,
dye-based, and polymer-based inks, as well as solid particles that
have an average size less than the average size of particles of the
build material. The molecular mass of the coalescence modifier
agent and its surface tension should be such that it enables the
agent to penetrate sufficiently into the build material to achieve
the desired mechanical separation. In one example, a salt solution
may be used as a coalescence modifier agent. In other examples,
inks commercially known as CM996A and CN673A available from
Hewlett-Packard Company may be used as a coalescence modifier
agent.
[0031] Suitable coalescence modifier agents may act to modify the
effects of a coalescing agent by preventing build material from
reaching temperatures above its melting point during heating. A
fluid that exhibits a suitable cooling effect may be used as this
type of coalescence modifier agent. For example, when build
material is treated with a cooling fluid, energy applied to the
build material may be absorbed evaporating the fluid to help
prevent build material from reaching its melting point. Thus, for
example, a fluid with a high water content may be a suitable
coalescence modifier agent.
[0032] Other types of coalescence modifier agent may be used. An
example of a coalescence modifier agent that may increase the
degree of coalescence may include, for example, a plasticizer.
Another example of a coalescence modifier agent that may increase
the degree of coalescence may include a surface tension modifier to
increase the wettability of particles of build material.
[0033] FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a processor readable
medium 32 with instructions 34 to consolidate build material in the
substrate during the manufacture of a 3D object. A processor
readable medium 32 is any non-transitory tangible medium that can
embody, contain, store, or maintain instructions for use by a
processor. Processor readable media include, for example,
electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor
media. More specific examples of suitable processor readable media
include a hard drive, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only
memory (ROM), memory cards and sticks and other portable storage
devices.
[0034] Instructions 34 include instructions to consolidate powdered
build material in the substrate, shown at block 104 in FIG. 7.
Instructions 34 may also include other manufacturing instructions,
for example instructions to form, solidify and separate shown at
blocks 106, 108 and 110 in FIG. 7. Processor readable medium 32
with instructions 34 may be implemented, for example, in a CAD
computer program product, in an object model processor, or in a
controller for an additive manufacturing machine. Control data to
consolidate powdered build material in the substrate can be
generated, for example, by processor readable instructions on the
source application, usually a CAD computer program product, in an
object model processor, or by processor readable instructions on
the additive manufacturing machine.
[0035] FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating one example of an
additive manufacturing machine 36 implementing a controller 38 with
instructions 34 to consolidate a substrate volume during the
manufacture of a 3D object. Referring to FIG. 17, machine 36
includes controller 38, a support 18, a build material layering
device 40, a binder dispenser 42, a coalescing agent dispenser 44,
a heater 46 and a light source 48. The in-process object structure
is supported on support 18 during manufacturing. In some machines
36, support 18 may support the in-process structure during
uncaking. Also, in some machines 36, support 18 is movable at the
urging of controller 38 to compensate for the changing thickness of
the in-process structure, for example as layers of build material
are added during manufacturing.
[0036] Build material layering device 40 layers build material on
support 18 and on the in-process structures and may include, for
example, a device to dispense the build material and a blade or
roller to distribute the build material uniformly to the desired
thickness for each layer. Binder dispenser 42 dispenses binder
selectively at the direction of controller 38 on to substrate build
material in a pattern that will surround the first slices of an
object supported on the substrate during manufacturing. Coalescing
agent dispenser 44 dispenses coalescing agent selectively at the
direction of controller 38 on to build material, usually in a
pattern corresponding to a slice. While any suitable dispenser may
be used to dispense the binder and coalescing agent, inkjet
printheads are often used in additive manufacturing machines
because of the precision with which they can dispense agents and
their flexibility to dispense different types and formulations of
agents. Manufacturing machine 36 may include a heater 46 if it is
desired to heat the substrate. Manufacturing machine 36 includes a
light source 48 to apply light energy to solidify build material
treated with coalescing agent.
[0037] Controller 38 represents the processor (or multiple
processors), the associated memory (or multiple memories) and
instructions, and the electronic circuitry and components needed to
control the operative elements of machine 36. In particular,
controller 38 includes a memory 50 having a processor readable
medium 32 with instructions 34 and a processor 52 to read and
execute instructions 34. For example, controller 38 would receive
control data and other instructions from a CAD program to make an
object (e.g., blocks 102, 106, 108 and 110 in FIG. 7) and execute
local instructions 34 to consolidate part of the substrate (e.g.,
block 104 in FIG. 7) as part of the process of making the
object.
[0038] Alternatively, consolidation instructions 34 may be embodied
in a processor readable medium 32 separate from controller 38, for
example as part of a CAD computer program product shown in FIG. 18.
Referring to FIG. 18, an additive manufacturing system 54 includes
an additive manufacturing machine 36 operatively connected to a CAD
computer program product 56 with the instructions to consolidate
parts of the substrate during manufacture of the object. In this
example, CAD program 56 includes processor readable medium 32 with
instructions 34. Any suitable connection between machine 36 and CAD
program 56 may be used to communicate instructions and control data
to machine 36 including, for example, a wired link, a wireless
link, and a portable connection such as a flash drive or compact
disk. Also, in this example, additive manufacturing machine 36
includes a coalescence modifier agent dispenser 58. Inkjet
printheads or another suitable dispenser 58 dispenses coalescence
modifier agent selectively on to build material at the direction of
controller 38 executing instructions from CAD program 58.
[0039] Light source 48 applies light energy to build material
formed on or over the substrate to cause the solidification of
portions of the build material according to where coalescing agent
has been delivered or has penetrated. In some examples, light
source 48 is an infra-red (IR) or near infra-red light source, a
halogen light source, or a light emitting diode. Light source 48
may be a single light source or an array of multiple light sources.
In some examples, light source 48 is configured to apply light
energy in a substantially uniform manner simultaneously to the
whole surface of a layer of build material. In other examples,
light source 48 is configured to apply energy to only a select
areas of the whole surface of a layer of build material. In these
examples light source 48 may be moved or scanned across the layer
of build material such that a substantially equal amount of energy
is applied to the selected areas or across the whole surface of a
layer of build material.
[0040] The combination of build material, coalescing and
coalescence modifier agents, and light energy may be selected for
an object slice so that (1) build material with no coalescing agent
does not coalesce when the energy is applied, (2) build material
with only coalescing agent solidifies when energy is applied; or
(3) build material with both agents undergo a modified degree of
coalescence between no coalescence and solidification with or
without the application of energy.
[0041] "A" and "an" used in the claims means one or more.
[0042] The examples shown in the figures and described above
illustrate but do not limit the invention, which is defined in the
following Claims.
* * * * *