当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Rowley Mills, Penistone Road, Lepton, Huddesfield, HD8 0LE, United Kingdom
摘要：
Additive layer manufacturing apparatus 10 for fusing powder with an electron beam 15 comprising layer forming means 14 and a housing 11 bounding a vacuum chamber 12. Powder supply 17, which is located outside vacuum chamber 12, may be detachable and can be placed in an evacuated state. Vacuum chamber 12 is communicable with the evacuated supply means 17, perhaps by a door, for the transfer of stored powder to the layer forming means 17. Between the powder supply 17 and the vacuum chamber 12, there may be chutes 27 and 28 and/or a transfer chamber 22 that acts as an air lock. The chutes may be positioned automatically when the doors 25 and 29 are opened. The supply means may have a valve comprising a rotary drum 26 and the amount powder in the power supply may be measured, monitored and communicated. The layer forming device 14 may comprise levelling blades 31 and a powder reservoir 30 with capacity for enough powder to form many layers. Included is a method for replenishing powder in a vacuum chamber without disrupting the vacuum environment.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. Additive layer manufacturing apparatus comprising
a housing bounding a vacuum chamber in which additive layer manufacturing can be carried out in a vacuum by the action of an electron beam on successive layers of fusible powder,
layer forming means in the vacuum chamber for forming each powder layer
and powder supply means outside the vacuum chamber for storing powder for supply to the layer forming means,
the powder supply means being capable of being placed in an evacuated state substantially corresponding with a vacuum in the vacuum chamber and the vacuum chamber being communicable with the supply means in the evacuated state thereof for transfer of stored powder from outside the vacuum chamber to the layer forming means in the vacuum chamber.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a powder transfer port for the communication of the vacuum chamber with the supply means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transfer port is openable and closable to control the communication.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a movable door for opening and for sealably closing the transfer port.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply means after transfer of the stored powder is transferrable to a non-evacuated state and in the evacuated state thereof is refillable with powder in situ or is removable at least in part for refilling or for exchange for a filled replacement so that powder can be supplied to the layer forming means without loss of a vacuum in the vacuum chamber.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the supply means is mounted on the
housing to be detachable therefrom entirely or in part.
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply means comprises a powder reservoir for storing the powder and a transfer chamber intermediate the reservoir and the vacuum chamber.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the supply means comprises closure means for closing the transfer chamber relative to the reservoir.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reservoir is in a constantly evacuated state substantially corresponding with a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, the transfer chamber being transferrable between a non-evacuated state and an evacuated state so as to function as a lock between the vacuum chamber and the reservoir.
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the supply means comprises a dispensing valve for dispensing powder from the reservoir to the transfer chamber.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the valve comprises a rotary drum with a powder receiving compartment fillable and emptiable under gravity as a function of the rotational setting of the drum.
12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply means is provided with connecting means for connection with a source of sub- atmospheric pressure for placing the supply means in the evacuated state thereof.
13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising guide means for guiding powder through the supply means and into the vacuum chamber.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the guide means is arranged to guide the powder under gravitational force.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the guide means comprises a transfer chute extending between and into both the vacuum chamber and the supply means
when the vacuum chamber and supply means are in communication.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the transfer chute is automatically movable into an operative position when the vacuum chamber and supply means are placed in communication and into an inoperative position when communication of the vacuum chamber and supply means is terminated.
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the guide means comprises a discharge chute for guiding powder discharged from a stock thereof stored in the supply means.
18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising measuring means for deriving from the supply means a measurement indicative of the quantity of powder therein.
19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising monitoring means for monitoring the quantity of powder in the supply means and signalling depletion or imminent depletion of that quantity.
20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the layer forming means comprises a reservoir for storing a quantity of powder received from the supply means and is movable to provide metered discharge of powder from that reservoir to form each layer.
21. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the storage capacity of the reservoir of the layer forming means is sufficient for a quantity of powder usable to form a predetermined plurality of layers of given area.
22. Apparatus according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the layer forming means comprises levelling means for levelling each layer of discharged powder.
23. A method of supplying powder for use in additive layer manufacturing carried out in a vacuum in a vacuum chamber by the action of an electron beam or successive layers of fusible powder individually formed by layer forming means in the vacuum chamber, comprising the steps of
storing a quantity of powder outside the vacuum chamber in powder supply means,
establishing a vacuum in the vacuum chamber,
placing the powder supply means in an evacuated state substantially corresponding with the vacuum in the vacuum chamber,
placing the vacuum chamber in communication with the powder supply means in that state and
during such communication transferring powder from the supply means to the layer forming means.
24. A method according to claim 23, comprising the further steps of terminating the communication of the vacuum chamber with the powder supply means prior to exhausting the stored powder through transfer to the layer forming means, transferring the powder supply means to a non-evacuated state and refilling the powder supply means with powder.
25. A method according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the powder is stored in the powder supply means constantly in a vacuum substantially corresponding with that of the vacuum in the vacuum chamber and the steps of placing the powder supply means in an evacuated state and placing the vacuum chamber in communication with the powder supply means comprise evacuating a lock chamber between the vacuum chamber and the stored powder and placing the evacuated lock chamber in communication with both the vacuum chamber and the stored powder.
26. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the step of transferring is carried out in metered batches.
27. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the step of transferring comprises transferring the powder solely by way of gravitational force.
28. A method according to any one of claim 23 to 27, comprising the step of
providing an indication of the amount of powder remaining in the powder supplying means.
29. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 28, where a quantity of powder sufficient for a predetermined number of layers less than the number needed to complete manufacture of an article of a given volume is stored in the layer forming means and the step of transferring comprising periodically replenishing the powder stored in the layer forming means to the extent required for complete manufacture of the article.