According to the present disclosure, there is provided a method for processing a thermoplastic part using a carboxylic ester solvent. Advantageously, it has been found that carboxylic esters provide an effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional alcohol-based solvents used for processing thermoplastic parts, particularly for smoothing the surface.
C08J 7/02 - Traitement chimique ou revêtement d'objets façonnés faits de substances macromoléculaires par des solvants, p.ex. par des agents gonflants
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 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
2.
Method for Removing Material from An Additively Manufactured Part
The present application relates to a method and system for removing material from an additively manufactured part. The method comprises providing an additively manufactured part comprising a part section and a support structure, providing a material having an expansible volume, carrying out an application step, wherein the material is applied to the additively manufactured part and carrying out a de-coupling step, wherein the material is expanded from a first, unexpanded, state to a second, expanded, state so as to generate a separating force for de-coupling the part section and the support structure.
The present application relates to a method for post-processing a powder-based additively manufactured part. The method comprising the steps of providing a powder-based additively manufactured part, the additively manufactured part comprising a material having a melting point, providing a fluid for processing the additively manufactured part in order to improve the surface finish of the additively manufactured part, wherein the fluid comprises at least one solvent selected from an organic ester, an aromatic organic compound or an acetal, a heating step, wherein the fluid is heated; and an application step, wherein the heated fluid is applied to a surface of the additively manufactured part. It has been found this process can help to improve the surface finish of the additively manufactured part, e.g. resulting in a less rough (i.e. smoother) surface finish.
B29C 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
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
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
The present invention provides apparatus for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part, comprising a reservoir (402) for containing a liquid solvent; a processing chamber (408) in controllable fluid communication with the reservoir; and a controller (418) configured to controllably post-process an additively manufactured polymer part located in the processing chamber by the solvent responsive to at least one parameter associated with the part. A method for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part is also provided.
B08B 3/10 - Nettoyage impliquant le contact avec un liquide avec traitement supplémentaire du liquide ou de l'objet en cours de nettoyage, p.ex. par la chaleur, par l'électricité ou par des vibrations
B29C 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
The present disclosure describes a number of methods of colouring additively manufactured parts. One such method involves providing a first dyeing liquid, heating the first dyeing liquid to a desired temperature and immersing a surface of an additively manufactured part into the first dyeing liquid. The process is then repeated with a second dyeing liquid so as to alter the colour of the additively manufactured part. Advantageously, by performing multiple, iterative colouring operations, it is possible to achieve a wider range of part colours without having to pre-mix dyes, thereby improving processing efficiency and flexibility.
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B29C 64/379 - Manutention des objets en 3D obtenus, p.ex. à l’aide de robots
B33Y 80/00 - Produits obtenus par fabrication additive
D06P 1/39 - Procédés généraux de teinture ou d'impression des textiles ou procédés généraux de teinture du cuir, des fourrures ou des substances macromoléculaires solides de toutes formes, classés selon les teintures, les pigments ou les substances auxiliaires u utilisant des colorants acides
B05C 3/00 - Appareillages dans lesquels un ouvrage est mis en contact avec une grande quantité de liquide ou autre matériau fluide
D06P 3/00 - Procédés particuliers de teinture ou d'impression de textiles ou de teinture du cuir, des fourrures ou de substances macromoléculaires solides de toutes formes classés selon la matière traitée
B05C 3/02 - Appareillages dans lesquels un ouvrage est mis en contact avec une grande quantité de liquide ou autre matériau fluide l'ouvrage étant immergé dans le liquide ou autre matériau fluide
B05C 3/09 - Appareillages dans lesquels un ouvrage est mis en contact avec une grande quantité de liquide ou autre matériau fluide l'ouvrage étant immergé dans le liquide ou autre matériau fluide pour traiter des objets individuels
B05C 13/02 - Moyens pour manipuler ou tenir des objets, p.ex. des objets individuels pour des objets particuliers
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
According to the present disclosure, there is provided a method for smoothing a surface of an additively manufactured metal part. The method comprises applying a chemical to a stepped surface of an additively manufactured part to at least soften a binder material supporting unprocessed powder particles of the part and allowing the powder particles at the surface to flow under the influence of gravity into recesses defined by the stepped surface to thereby reduce a roughness of the surface. Advantageously, it has been found that the afore-described method is able to provide a part having an improved surface smoothness.
The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing powder from one or more additively manufactured (AM) parts or a powder cake containing one or more AM parts. The method comprises the steps of: locating one or more AM parts (14) and/or a powder cake (16) containing one or more AM parts in a chamber (12); directing a first flow of fluid in a first direction into the chamber (12) in order to impact the one or more AM parts (14) and/or powder cake (16); and directing a second flow of fluid in a second direction into the chamber (12) in order to impact the one or more AM parts (14) and/or powder cake (16), wherein the second direction is different to the first direction. The method/system has been found to effectively remove powder from an AM part or powder cake.
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 64/165 - Procédés de fabrication additive utilisant une combinaison de matériaux solides et liquides, p.ex. une poudre avec liaison sélective par liant liquide, catalyseur, inhibiteur ou absorbeur d’énergie
The invention relates to methods and apparatus (10) for processing one or more additively manufactured (AM) parts and/or a powder cake containing one or more AM parts. The method comprises: locating one or more AM parts and/or a powder cake containing one or more AM parts in a processing chamber (12); providing processing media in the processing chamber (12); and creating a swirling flow path for said processing media within the processing chamber (12) for impacting the one or more AM parts and/or powder cake with the processing media. The method/apparatus can be used to efficiently remove powder from AM parts/powder cakes and/or alter surface properties of AM parts.
B24B 31/02 - Machines ou dispositifs pour polir ou travailler par abrasion des surfaces "au tonneau", ou au moyen d'autres appareils, dans lesquels les pièces à travailler ou les produits abrasifs sont libres; Accessoires à cet effet impliquant l'emploi de tonneaux rotatifs
B24B 31/12 - Machines ou dispositifs pour polir ou travailler par abrasion des surfaces "au tonneau", ou au moyen d'autres appareils, dans lesquels les pièces à travailler ou les produits abrasifs sont libres; Accessoires à cet effet Équipement de protection ou dispositifs de sécurité; Installations pour l'extraction des poussières ou l'absorption du bruit spécialement adaptées aux machines couvertes par le groupe
B29B 17/02 - Séparation de matières plastiques des autres matières
A method for processing an additively manufactured investment casting model. The method comprises providing an additively manufactured investment casting model, placing the model into a processing chamber, introducing a chemical vapour into said chamber, carrying out an application step, wherein the chemical vapour is condensed onto at least a portion of the surface of the additively manufactured investment casting model and carrying out a drying step, wherein the transformed surface material is re- solidified. During the drying step, the temperature within the processing chamber is maintained between 30°c and 50°c and the pressure within the processing chamber is maintained at or below 1000 mbar. In the above manner, it is possible to efficiently smooth additively manufactured investment casting models without causing them to deform.
The present applications relates to a method and system for removing material from an additively manufactured part. The method comprises providing an additively manufactured part comprising a part section and a support structure, providing a material having an expansible volume, carrying out an application step, wherein the material is applied to the additively manufactured part and carrying out a de-coupling step, wherein the material is expanded from a first, unexpanded, state to a second, expanded, state so as to generate a separating force for de-coupling the part section and the support structure.
B22F 10/43 - Structures destinées à soutenir des pièces ou des articles pendant la fabrication et retirées par la suite caractérisées par le matériau
B22F 10/62 - Traitement de pièces ou d'articles après leur formation par des moyens chimiques
B29C 64/40 - Structures de support des objets en 3D pendant la fabrication, lesdites structures devant être sacrifiées après réalisation de la fabrication
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
C04B 35/00 - Produits céramiques mis en forme, caractérisés par leur composition; Compositions céramiques; Traitement de poudres de composés inorganiques préalablement à la fabrication de produits céramiques
The present invention relates to a system (100) for automatically processing an additively manufactured part. The system comprises an inspection module (120) for determining at least one part parameter associated with a surface finish quality of the part, a processing module (118) for processing a surface of the part responsive to the at least one part parameter and controller (102) configured to modify a processing parameter of a surface finishing process, performed by the processing module, based on the at least one part parameter determined by the inspection module.
B33Y 30/00 - Appareils pour la fabrication additive; Leurs parties constitutives ou accessoires à cet effet
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B33Y 50/00 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive
B29C 64/379 - Manutention des objets en 3D obtenus, p.ex. à l’aide de robots
B29C 64/386 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive
B29C 64/40 - Structures de support des objets en 3D pendant la fabrication, lesdites structures devant être sacrifiées après réalisation de la fabrication
B29C 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
12.
METHOD FOR POST-PROCESSING AN ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED PART
The present application relates to a method for post-processing a powder-based additively manufactured part. The method comprising the steps of providing a powder- based additively manufactured part, the additively manufactured part comprising a material having a melting point, providing a fluid for processing the additively manufactured part in order to improve the surface finish of the additively manufactured part, wherein the fluid comprises at least one solvent selected from an organic ester, an aromatic organic compound or an acetal, a heating step, wherein the fluid is heated; and an application step, wherein the heated fluid is applied to a surface of the additively manufactured part. It has been found this process can help to improve the surface finish of the additively manufactured part, e.g. resulting in a less rough (i.e. smoother) surface finish.
B29C 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
B29C 64/188 - Procédés de fabrication additive impliquant des opérations supplémentaires effectuées sur les couches ajoutées, p.ex. lissage, meulage ou contrôle d’épaisseur
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B08B 3/10 - Nettoyage impliquant le contact avec un liquide avec traitement supplémentaire du liquide ou de l'objet en cours de nettoyage, p.ex. par la chaleur, par l'électricité ou par des vibrations
B08B 3/12 - Nettoyage impliquant le contact avec un liquide avec traitement supplémentaire du liquide ou de l'objet en cours de nettoyage, p.ex. par la chaleur, par l'électricité ou par des vibrations par des vibrations soniques ou ultrasoniques
B08B 7/02 - Nettoyage par des procédés non prévus dans une seule autre sous-classe ou un seul groupe de la présente sous-classe par distorsion, battage ou vibration de la surface à nettoyer
B08B 7/04 - Nettoyage par des procédés non prévus dans une seule autre sous-classe ou un seul groupe de la présente sous-classe par une combinaison d'opérations
37 - Services de construction; extraction minière; installation et réparation
40 - Traitement de matériaux; recyclage, purification de l'air et traitement de l'eau
Produits et services
Machines and machine tools for treatment and transformation
of materials; machines and machine tools for manufacturing;
machines for shaping plastic material; machinery for working
plastic material; machine tools for the plastics processing
industry; 3D-printers; powder handling apparatus [machines];
machines and apparatus for cleaning, electric; painting
machines; dyeing machines; paint marking machines; paint
sifting machines; spray paint machines; paint spray guns;
supports for spray guns for paint; machines for dyeing
objects produced with a 3D printing method; machines for
dyeing objects of plastic; machines for impregnating objects
produced with a 3D printing method; machines for
impregnating objects of plastic; machines for sealing
objects produced with a 3D printing method; machines for
sealing objects of plastic; paint mixing machines; air
brushes for applying paint; spraying machines; parts and
fittings for the aforesaid goods. Installation, cleaning, repair and maintenance of 3d
printers, machines and machine tools for treatment and
transformation of materials; painting; coating [painting]
services; paint spraying; information, consultancy and
advisory services relating to all the aforesaid services. 3D printing; additive manufacturing; custom fabrication of
parts, components and models for others; custom manufacture
of 3D printing equipment and components; custom 3D printing
for others; digital printing services; rental of 3D
printers; rental of machines and machine tools for treatment
and transformation of materials; dyeing services; dyeing of
objects produced with a 3D printing method; impregnating
objects produced with a 3D printing method; impregnating of
objects of plastic; custom construction of machines, for
others; sealing of objects produced with a 3D printing
method; sealing of objects of plastic; surface coating and
polishing; information, consultancy and advisory services
relating to all the aforesaid services.
According to the present disclosure, there is provided a method for smoothing a surface of an additively manufactured metal part. The method comprises applying a chemical to a stepped surface of an additively manufactured part to at least soften a binder material supporting unprocessed powder particles of the part and allowing the powder particles at the surface to flow under the influence of gravity into recesses defined by the stepped surface to thereby reduce a roughness of the surface. Advantageously, it has been found that the afore-described method is able to provide a part having an improved surface smoothness.
B22F 3/00 - Fabrication de pièces ou d'objets à partir de poudres métalliques, caractérisée par le mode de compactage ou de frittage; Appareils spécialement adaptés à cet effet
B29C 64/188 - Procédés de fabrication additive impliquant des opérations supplémentaires effectuées sur les couches ajoutées, p.ex. lissage, meulage ou contrôle d’épaisseur
B33Y 40/20 - Posttraitement, p.ex. durcissement, revêtement ou polissage
B22F 3/24 - Traitement ultérieur des pièces ou objets
37 - Services de construction; extraction minière; installation et réparation
40 - Traitement de matériaux; recyclage, purification de l'air et traitement de l'eau
Produits et services
Machines and machine tools for treatment and transformation of materials, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines; machines and machine tools for manufacturing, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines; machines for shaping plastic material; machinery for working plastic material; machine tools for the plastics processing industry; 3D-printers; powder handling machines, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines; machines and apparatus for cleaning, electric, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines; painting machines; dyeing machines, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines for dyeing of machined parts, surface coatings and sealers; paint marking machines; paint sifting machines; spray paint machines; paint spray guns; supports specially adapted for holding spray guns for paint; machines for dyeing objects produced with a 3D printing method; machines for dyeing objects of plastic; machines for impregnating objects produced with a 3D printing method; machines for impregnating objects of plastic; machines for sealing objects produced with a 3D printing method; machines for sealing objects of plastic; paint mixing machines; air brushes for applying paint; spraying machines; structural and replacement parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods Installation, cleaning, repair and maintenance of 3d printers, machines and machine tools for treatment and transformation of materials; painting; coating services, namely, applications of coatings and sealers; paint spraying; providing information, consultancy and advisory services in the fields of painting, application of surface coatings and sealers, and installation, cleaning, repair and maintenance of 3D printers Custom 3D printing; Custom additive manufacturing; custom fabrication of parts, components and models, namely, created by additive manufacturing or 3D printing, for others; custom manufacture of 3D printing equipment and components; custom 3D printing for others; digital printing services; rental of 3D printers; rental of machines and machine tools for treatment and transformation of materials; dyeing services, namely, dyeing of machined parts, surface coatings and sealers; dyeing of objects produced with a 3D printing method; impregnating objects produced with a 3D printing method; impregnating of objects of plastic; custom construction of machines, namely, additive manufacturing and 3D printing machines for others; sealing of objects produced with a 3D printing method; sealing of objects of plastic; surface coating and polishing of machined parts; providing information, consultancy and advisory services in the fields of custom 3D printing, additive manufacturing, rental of 3D printing machines, digital printing, custom construction of 3D printers, and surface coatings and sealants for objects produced by a 3D printer
An apparatus (100) for additively manufacturing a part. The apparatus comprises a build bed (104) for supporting a powder material, a powder surface preparation device (106) for preparing a surface of the powder material and an energy emitting device (108) for energising the powder surface based on a desired part geometry. The build bed is controllably moveable along a closed loop transport path which extends around a horizontal axis. Advantageously, it has been found that the provision of a transport path which extends around a horizontal axis provides for more easy access to the parts located on said path. Subsequently, operational efficiency can be improved.
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 64/176 - Procédés de fabrication additive spécialement adaptés à la fabrication d'objets multiples en 3D successivement
B29C 64/241 - Moyens d’entraînement pour mouvement rotatif
B29C 64/259 - Enceintes pour le matériau de construction, p.ex. récipients pour poudre interchangeables
The present invention relates to a system (100) for automatically processing an additively manufactured part. The system comprises an inspection module (120) for determining at least one part parameter associated with a surface finish quality of the part, a processing module (118) for processing a surface of the part responsive to the at least one part parameter and controller (102) configured to modify a processing parameter of a surface finishing process, performed by the processing module, based on the at least one part parameter determined by the inspection module.
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
B29C 64/393 - Acquisition ou traitement de données pour la fabrication additive pour la commande ou la régulation de procédés de fabrication additive
B29C 64/40 - Structures de support des objets en 3D pendant la fabrication, lesdites structures devant être sacrifiées après réalisation de la fabrication
The present application describes apparatus (100) for colouring an additively manufactured polymer part, comprising a chamber (106) for locating at least one additively manufactured polymer part (105) to be coloured, a first reservoir (102) for containing dye pigment particles to be suspended in a gas, and fluidly coupled to the chamber, and a further reservoir (104) for containing a solvent vapour, and fluidly coupled to the chamber. A method of colouring an additively manufactured polymer part is also described.
B29C 64/30 - Opérations ou équipements auxiliaires
B29C 71/00 - Post-traitement d'objets sans modification de leur forme; Appareils à cet effet
B05D 1/00 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces
B05D 1/02 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces réalisés par pulvérisation
B05D 3/10 - Traitement préalable des surfaces sur lesquelles des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides doivent être appliqués; Traitement ultérieur des revêtements appliqués, p.ex. traitement intermédiaire d'un revêtement déjà appliqué, pour préparer les applications ultérieures de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par d'autres moyens chimiques
B05D 5/06 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces pour obtenir des effets, finis ou des structures de surface particuliers pour obtenir des effets multicolores ou d'autres effets optiques
B05D 7/02 - Procédés, autres que le flocage, spécialement adaptés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides, à des surfaces particulières, ou pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides particuliers à des substances macromoléculaires, p.ex. à du caoutchouc
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 17/04 - Appareils de pulvérisation ou d'atomisation de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides, non couverts par les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe opérant suivant des procédés particuliers
C08J 7/00 - Traitement chimique ou revêtement d'objets façonnés faits de substances macromoléculaires
The present application describes apparatus for removing powder from a powder- based additively manufactured part, comprising at least one chamber (106) to contain a fluid, a device to induce flow in the fluid to agitate and remove powder from a powder-based additively manufactured part located therein, and an ultrasound generating transducer (121 ) to produce ultrasonic waves in the or a further fluid and agitate and remove powder from the powder-based additively manufactured part located therein. Methods of removing powder from a powder-based additively manufactured part and a method of cooling a powder cake supporting a powder- based additively manufactured part are also described.
B22F 3/105 - Frittage seul en utilisant un courant électrique, un rayonnement laser ou un plasma
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
The present application describes a method of determining a condition of a surface, comprising obtaining image data of a surface; extracting a plurality of test parameters associated with a condition of the surface from the image data; and determining the condition of the surface based on the test parameters. A system for determining a condition of a surface and a method of processing a part are also described.
G06K 9/00 - Méthodes ou dispositions pour la lecture ou la reconnaissance de caractères imprimés ou écrits ou pour la reconnaissance de formes, p.ex. d'empreintes digitales
G06K 9/46 - Extraction d'éléments ou de caractéristiques de l'image
The present invention provides apparatus for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part, comprising a reservoir (402) for containing a liquid solvent; a processing chamber (408) in controllable fluid communication with the reservoir; and a controller (418) configured to controllably post-process an additively manufactured polymer part located in the processing chamber by the solvent responsive to at least one parameter associated with the part. A method for post-processing an additively manufactured polymer part is also provided.
