IPC分类号：
B29C64/25 | B29C64/165 | B33Y30/00 | B22F12/00 | B22F10/14 | B29C64/227 | B29C64/236
当前申请(专利权)人：
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
原始申请(专利权)人：
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
1 River Road,Schenectady, NY 12345 US
发明人：
FULTON, VICTOR | BONILLA, CARLOS H. | MAYER, JACOB | ANDREWS, TIMOTHY FRANCIS | MOOK, JOSHUA TYLER | LUESCHEN, PETER DOUGLAS | STERLE, JOHN | BROMBERG, VADIM
代理人：
TENT, BRIAN A. ET AL.
摘要：
In embodiments, an additive manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a chassis assembly and a skin at least partially covering the chassis assembly. The chassis assembly comprises a lower chassis section secured to a low voltage chassis section (608); an upper environmental chassis section (602) secured to and extending over the low voltage chassis section and the lower chassis section; a high voltage chassis section (606) secured to the upper environmental chassis section and the lower chassis section; and a build receptacle carriage (624) adjustably coupled to the lower chassis section. The skin comprises first and second doors providing access to the low voltage chassis section and the high voltage chassis section; a rear panel providing access to the upper environmental chassis section; a top panel covering a top of the upper environmental chassis section; and at least one hinged door providing access to the lower chassis section.
技术问题语段：
The technical problem addressed in this patent is improving the throughput of additive manufacturing apparatuses by improving manufacturing throughput. The patent describes various alternative additive manufacturing apparatuses and methods for improving the speed and efficiency of additive manufacturing.
技术功效语段：
The patent text describes an additive manufacturing apparatus that improves the throughput of additive manufacturing by increasing the throughput of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a chassis assembly with a low voltage chassis section, a lower chassis section, an upper environmental chassis section, a high voltage chassis section, and a build receptacle carriage adjustably coupled to the lower chassis section. The skin of the apparatus includes a plurality of doors, panels, and a hinged door to allow for ventilation and access. The apparatus also includes a linear motion assembly, a recoat head, a print head, and a support rail to move the apparatus. The technical effects of the patent text include improved throughput, improved efficiency, and better access for powder, fluids, and air.
权利要求：
- 47 -
CLAIMS
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising: a chassis assembly comprising: a low voltage chassis section; a lower chassis section secured to the low voltage chassis section at a first end of the lower chassis section; an upper environmental chassis section secured to and extending over the low voltage chassis section and the lower chassis section; a high voltage chassis section secured to the upper environmental chassis section and the lower chassis section at a second end of the lower chassis section; and a build receptacle carriage adjustably coupled to the lower chassis section; and a skin at least partially covering the chassis assembly, the skin comprising: a first door providing access to the low voltage chassis section and a first end of the upper environmental chassis section; a second door providing access to the high voltage chassis section; a rear panel providing access to the upper environmental chassis section; a top panel covering a top of the upper environmental chassis section; and at least one hinged door providing access to the lower chassis section.
2. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first door, the second door, and the top panel is perforated to allow ventilation through the skin.
3. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skin further comprises a material supply port through which powder, fluids, and air are received from a material handling system into the additive manufacturing apparatus.
4. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chassis further comprises a pair of machine hoisting beams coupled to the upper environmental chassis section and accessible through the skin.
5. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the lower chassis section comprises a pair of horizontal carriage supports each extending between the first end and the second end of the lower chassis section upon which the build receptacle carriage is disposed; and
- 48 - the build receptacle carriage comprises an adjustment pin that pushes against the lower chassis section to adjust a position of the build receptacle carriage between the first end and the second end of the lower chassis section along the pair of horizontal carriage supports.
6. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of positioning blocks configured for adjustably coupling a lift system to the build receptacle carriage, and adjusting the coupling of the lift system to the build receptacle carriage moves the lift system within the build receptacle carriage in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lower chassis section extending from the first end to the second end of the lower chassis section.
7. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a linear motion assembly coupled to the upper environmental chassis section, the linear motion assembly comprising a linear rail defining a working axis for the additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the rear panel provides access to the linear motion assembly; a recoat head removably coupled to the linear rail through a first linear rail carriage to move a powder material from a powder supply to a build area; a print head removably coupled to the linear rail through a second linear rail carriage to deposit a binder material in the build area; wherein the recoat head and the print head are cantilevered from the linear rail.
8. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a length of the rear panel in a direction parallel to the working axis of the additive manufacturing apparatus is greater than a length of the linear motion assembly in the direction parallel to the working axis of the additive manufacturing apparatus.
9. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the linear motion assembly comprises at least a pair of gussets accessible through the rear panel for lifting the linear motion assembly.
10. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a support rail coupled to each of the recoat head and the print head through a corresponding support arm; wherein the support rail extends in a direction parallel to and is spaced apart from the linear motion assembly.
- 49 -
11. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support rail is coupled to a top panel of a process chamber surrounding the linear motion assembly, the recoat head, and the print head.
12. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support rail is coupled to a working surface within the additive manufacturing apparatus.
13. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skin comprises a recess therein for removably mounting a mobile computing device.
14. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a system panel mounted to the lower chassis section via hinges, the system panel having system components mounted on a first side and a second side of the system panel for the operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the system panel is rotatable between a first position in which the system panel is parallel to the at least one hinged door providing access to the lower chassis section such that when the at least one hinged door is closed, the first side of the system panel is positioned between the at least one hinged door and the second side of the system panel, and a second position in which the second side of the system panel is exposed through the skin.
15. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the system component mounted on the system panel comprise components of a pneumatic system of the additive manufacturing apparatus.
16. The additive manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a conveyor system extending through the lower chassis section in a direction perpendicular to a length of the lower chassis section extending from the first end to the second end of the lower chassis section; and a tunnel enclosing the conveyor system, the tunnel comprising a lid that opens for access to the conveyor system.
17. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, comprising: opening the first door to access a low voltage electrical cabinet mounted to the low voltage chassis section.
18. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, comprising:
- 50 - opening the second door to access a high voltage electrical cabinet mounted to the high voltage chassis section.
19. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, comprising: opening the at least one hinged door providing access to the lower chassis section to access one or more of a binder tank, a cleaning solution tank, and a system panel.
20. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, comprising: opening one or more of a recoat bay door and a print bay door to access a corresponding recoat bay or print bay positioned between the upper environmental chassis section and the lower chassis section.
21. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, comprising: removing at least one of the rear panel, the top panel, and a front panel of the skin.
22. A method for servicing the additive manufacturing apparatus of claim 9, comprising: decoupling the print head and the recoat head from the linear motion assembly; removing the rear panel from the additive manufacturing apparatus to expose the linear motion assembly through the skin; engaging the pair of gussets of the linear motion assembly with a fork lift; and removing the linear motion assembly from the additive manufacturing apparatus.