当前申请(专利权)人地址：
111 Strand, London, WC2R 0AG, United Kingdom
摘要：
A substrate for an additive manufacturing process, the substrate (13, figure 2) having a build surface (20, figure 2) for fusing to a part being formed on the substrate by the additive manufacturing process, wherein the substrate is configured to provide relatively high stiffness in a direction substantially perpendicular to the build surface (z), whilst having a low longitudinal stiffness in the plane of the build surface (x-y). The substrate may comprise an upper 21 and lower 22 portion wherein the upper portion includes an array of protrusions (24, figure 3) with their longitudinal axis aligned substantially perpendicular to the build surface. Alternatively, one or more slits (23, figure 3) may extend from the building surface through part of the thickness of the substrate. In a further embodiment, the upper portion may include a different material to that of the lower portion. A method of forming the substrate, a system including the substrate, and use of the system for creating a part by an additive manufacturing process are further disclosed.
权利要求：
Claims 1. A substrate for an additive manufacturing process, the substrate having a build surface for fusing to a part being formed on the substrate by the additive manufacturing process. wherein the substrate is configured to provide rdatively high stiffness in a direction substantia'ly perpendicular to the build surface, whilst having a low longitudinal stiffness in the plane of the build surface.
2. A substrate according to claim I, having an upper portion nearest the build surface and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion includes a different construction andlor material to that of the lower portion.
3. A substrate for an additive manufacturing process, the substrate having a build surface for fusing to a part being formed on the substrate by the additive manufacturing process, wherein the substrate has an upper portion nearest the bufid surface and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion includes an array of protrusions with theft-longitudinal axis aligned substantially perpendicular to the build surface.
4. A substrate according to claim 3, wherein tops of the protrusions provide at least a portion of the build surface.
5. A substrate according to claim 3 or claim 4. wherein bases of the protrusions are integrally formed with the lower portion of the substrate.
6. A substrate according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the protrusions are slender, preferably having an aspect ratio of at least 3.
7. A substrate according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the protrusions each have straight sides substantia'ly perpendicular to the build surface.
8. A substrate according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the protrusions each have a taper of increasing cross section towards the build surface.
9. A substrate according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein the substrate is a monolith.
10. A substrate according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein a gap between adjacent protrusions is filled by a material dissimilar to that of the protrusions.ii. A substrate for an additive manufacturing process, the substrate having a build surface for fusing to a part being formed on the substrate by the additive manufacturing process, and one or more slits extending from the build surface through part of the thickness of the substrate.12. A substrate according to claim 11, wherein the slits are provided in an upper portion of the substrate, and a lower portion of the substrate is substantially solid.13. A substrate according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the slits form a grid.14. A substrate according to claim 13, wherein the build surface is substantially rectangular and the grid is aligned substantially with an edge or a diagonal of the build surface.15. A substrate according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the slits are provided on only a portion of the build surface.16. A substrate according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the slits have a substantially uniform width.17. A substrate according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the substrate is a monolith.18. A substrate according to any of claims Ii to 17, wherein the base of each slit has a radius corner.19. A substrate for an additive manufacturing process, the substrate having a build surface for fusing to a part being formed on the substrate by the additive manufactunng process, wherein the substrate has an upper portion nearest the build surface and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion includes a different material to that of the lower portion.20. A substrate according to claim 19, wherein the lower portion has a higher stiffness than the upper portion.21. A substrate according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the upper portion includes a material of high ductility and low yield strength as compared with the material of the part intended to be fused to it during the additive manufacturing process.22. A substrate according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the upper portion indudes a includes a material of low elastic modulus and high strain to failure as compared with the material of the part intended to be fused to it during the additive manufacturing process.23. A substrate according to any of claims 19 to 22 wherein the upper portion includes a material that is weldable with the material of the part intended to be fused to it during the additive manufacturing process.24. A substrate according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is re-useable for building successive part(s) by the additive manufacturing process.25. A substrate according to claim 24, wherein a top layer of the substrate is removed after each build to redefine the build surface.26. A system for creating a part by an additive manufacturing process, the system induding a substrate in accordance with any preceding claim.27. A system according to claim 26. configured to create the part layer by layer.28. A system according to daim 27, configured to create the part by sdectively sintenng successive powder layers.29. A method of forming a substrate for an additive manufacturing process, comprising providing a plate, and cutting one or more slits extending from the upper surface of the plate through part of the thickness of the plate.30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the slits are cut by electrical discharge machining (EDM) or by a laser.31. A method of forming a substrate for an additive manufacturing process, comprising using an additive manufacturing process to form a substrate having an upper por ion and a lower portion, wherein the upper por6on indudes an array of upstanding protrusions.32. Use of a system according to any of claims 26 to 28 for creating a part by an additive manufacturing process.