Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of powder bed recoaters including non-contact powder redistributors. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of powder bed additive manufacturing systems including non-contact powder redistributors and methods for recoating powder beds. In an exemplary embodiment, a method comprises applying powder in a pattern along a top surface of a powder bed such that the applied powder covers only one or more portions, and not the entirety, of the powder bed. The method further comprises redistributing the powder in the pattern to flatten or level the powder bed without physically contacting the powder bed.
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p.ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/188 - Procédés de fabrication additive impliquant des opérations supplémentaires effectuées sur les couches ajoutées, p.ex. lissage, meulage ou contrôle d’épaisseur
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p.ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p.ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additive; Leurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 50/02 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a build platform holding a powder bed and an electrode assembly including an electrode and an insulating shield. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. The electrode assembly is positionable over the powder bed, such that when the electrode assembly is over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and the powder bed's top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder of the powder bed top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
B29C 64/188 - Procédés de fabrication additive impliquant des opérations supplémentaires effectuées sur les couches ajoutées, p.ex. lissage, meulage ou contrôle d’épaisseur
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p.ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B22F 10/00 - Fabrication additive de pièces ou d’objets à partir de poudres métalliques
B28B 1/00 - Fabrication d'objets façonnés à partir du matériau
A system for recoating a powder bed includes a platform holding a powder bed, a brush and an electrode assembly including an electrode and insulating shield. After powder is distributed on the powder bed the top surface of the powder bed is smoothed by the brush. A voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current and communicates with the powder bed and the electrode. When the electrode assembly is positioned over the powder bed, the shield is between the electrode and powder bed top surface. The voltage supply produces a high voltage alternating current that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and the powder bed that causes the powder on the top surface to oscillate in a region between the shield and the bed and then reposition themselves on the bed such that the top layer of the powder bed is smoother than it was prior to when the powder particles began oscillating.
B29C 64/153 - Procédés de fabrication additive n’utilisant que des matériaux solides utilisant des couches de poudre avec jonction sélective, p.ex. par frittage ou fusion laser sélectif
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additive; Leurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 50/02 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
A powder feeder includes a hopper holding powder particles and a rotating conductive wheel having a rim. The rim has a powder landing surface in a groove in the rim. As the wheel rotates, the powder landing surface is disposed below the hopper. A voltage supply electrically communicates with an electrode and the wheel. The electrode and powder landing surface have a space between them. An insulator is disposed between the electrode and the wheel. The voltage supply produces an AC electric potential between the electrode and the rim that creates an alternating electric field within the space. An outlet chamber is positioned below the wheel. The electric field created within the space causes powder particles falling onto the powder landing surface and rotating under the electrode to develop an electrical surface charge. An electrostatic force causes powder particles to oscillate between the pile and the insulator. After a period of oscillation the particles drop over the edges of the rim and into the chamber.
A electrostatic powder feeder includes a body having a cavity. The cavity is shaped and sized to hold a supply of powder particles and is defined by a cavity wall. A diverter is disposed in the cavity and positioned away from the cavity wall so as to create a powder flow space between the diverter and cavity wall. The feeder includes an electrode and a powder landing surface connected to a power supply. The electrode is positioned remotely from the powder landing surface at a distance at which it can act upon powder resting upon the powder landing surface. An aperture through which powder particles may fall is disposed in or proximate to the powder landing surface. An insulator is positioned between the electrode and the powder landing surface. The power supply produces an alternating electric potential that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and powder landing surface that causes powder particles to oscillate and eventually fall through the aperture. In an alternative embodiment, the powder landing surface is on a diaphragm connected to the body and disposed below the powder flow space. The diaphragm is sized and shaped to hold a quantity of powder falling from the powder flow space. The diaphragm includes an aperture. A vibration actuator is affixed to the diaphragm, which provides a vibratory force to the powder particles.
G05D 7/06 - Commande de débits caractérisée par l'utilisation de moyens électriques
B05B 7/14 - Appareillages de pulvérisation pour débiter des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides provenant de plusieurs sources, p.ex. un liquide et de l'air, une poudre et un gaz agencés pour projeter des matériaux en particules
B05B 5/16 - Dispositions pour l'alimentation en liquides ou en autres matériaux fluides
B05B 5/04 - Appareillages pour délivrer le matériau, p.ex. pistolets de pulvérisation électrostatique caractérisés en ce qu'ils comportent une sortie rotative ou des éléments déflecteurs
B05B 5/00 - Pulvérisation électrostatique; Dispositifs de pulvérisation comportant des moyens pour charger électriquement le pulvérisat; Pulvérisation de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par voies électriques
B33Y 40/00 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires, p.ex. pour la manipulation de matériau
A electrostatic powder feeder includes a body having a cavity. The cavity is shaped and sized to hold a supply of powder particles and is defined by a cavity wall. A diverter is disposed in the cavity and positioned away from the cavity wall so as to create a powder flow space between the diverter and cavity wall. The feeder includes an electrode and a powder landing surface connected to a power supply. The electrode is positioned remotely from the powder landing surface at a distance at which it can act upon powder resting upon the powder landing surface. An aperture through which powder particles may fall is disposed in or proximate to the powder landing surface. An insulator is positioned between the electrode and the powder landing surface. The power supply produces an alternating electric potential that creates an alternating electric field between the electrode and powder landing surface that causes powder particles to oscillate and eventually fall through the aperture. In an alternative embodiment, the powder landing surface is on a diaphragm connected to the body and disposed below the powder flow space. The diaphragm is sized and shaped to hold a quantity of powder falling from the powder flow space. The diaphragm includes an aperture. A vibration actuator is affixed to the diaphragm, which provides a vibratory force to the powder particles.
B05B 5/00 - Pulvérisation électrostatique; Dispositifs de pulvérisation comportant des moyens pour charger électriquement le pulvérisat; Pulvérisation de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par voies électriques
B05B 7/14 - Appareillages de pulvérisation pour débiter des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides provenant de plusieurs sources, p.ex. un liquide et de l'air, une poudre et un gaz agencés pour projeter des matériaux en particules
B05B 5/16 - Dispositions pour l'alimentation en liquides ou en autres matériaux fluides
B05B 5/04 - Appareillages pour délivrer le matériau, p.ex. pistolets de pulvérisation électrostatique caractérisés en ce qu'ils comportent une sortie rotative ou des éléments déflecteurs
G05D 7/06 - Commande de débits caractérisée par l'utilisation de moyens électriques
B33Y 40/00 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires, p.ex. pour la manipulation de matériau
An apparatus for feeding powder particles includes a hopper holding a supply of powder. A voltage supply is in electrical communication with a first electrode and a second electrode. The hopper is configured to drop powder onto the first electrode. The voltage supply is capable of producing an electric potential between the first electrode and second electrode and causing the powder particles landing on the first electrode to develop a surface charge. The second electrode is positioned remotely from the first electrode such that the electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode causes the powder particles that fall onto the first electrode to move off the first electrode and move toward the second electrode. The powder particles moving toward the second electrode may or may not reach the electrode, but in either case drop away from the second electrode due to the force of gravity.
A45D 24/22 - Peignes avec dispositifs de distribution de liquides, de pâtes ou de poudres
B65D 83/00 - Réceptacles ou paquets comportant des moyens particuliers pour distribuer leur contenu
B65D 88/66 - Grands réceptacles caractérisés par des moyens pour faciliter le remplissage ou le vidage en empêchant la formation de ponts par des dispositifs à vibration ou à chocs
B23K 26/144 - Travail par rayon laser, p.ex. soudage, découpage ou perçage en utilisant un écoulement de fluide, p.ex. un jet de gaz, associé au faisceau laser; Buses à cet effet l'écoulement de fluide contenant des particules, p.ex. de la poudre
C23C 24/10 - Revêtement à partir de poudres inorganiques en utilisant la chaleur ou une pression et la chaleur avec formation d'une phase liquide intermédiaire dans la couche
B23K 26/14 - Travail par rayon laser, p.ex. soudage, découpage ou perçage en utilisant un écoulement de fluide, p.ex. un jet de gaz, associé au faisceau laser; Buses à cet effet
B05B 5/03 - Appareillages pour délivrer le matériau, p.ex. pistolets de pulvérisation électrostatique caractérisés par l'utilisation de gaz
B33Y 40/00 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires, p.ex. pour la manipulation de matériau
machines for feeding and conveying powder substances for industrial use and small scale manufacturing, namely, electrostatic and electromechanical powder feeders for use in powder metallurgy and 3-D printing
