Build plate assembly for additive manufacturing

1 . A build plate assembly configured for use with an additive manufacturing machine, the build plate assembly comprising: a build plate including an inner sidewall defining a receptacle, the inner sidewall tapers outward from an outer plate surface of the build plate, the receptacle is smallest at the outer plate surface; and an insert seated in the receptacle and movable within the receptacle, the insert including a build surface configured to support a product built thereon by the additive manufacturing machine, an inner insert surface opposite to the build surface, and an angled side surface extending between the build surface and the inner insert surface, the angled side surface is opposite to the inner sidewall; wherein: the insert is configured to expand within the receptacle in response to heat transferred to the insert from the product being built on the insert, and the receptacle is configured to accommodate the expansion; and in response to the expansion, the angled side surface of the insert slides along the inner sidewall of the receptacle to draw the insert into the receptacle from an outward position to an inward position into a gap defined by the build plate assembly below the inner insert surface.

2 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes an outer insert surface configured as the build surface, the outer insert surface protrudes beyond the outer plate surface prior to the expansion.

3 . The build plate assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a backing plate on an inner plate surface of the build plate, the inner plate surface is opposite to the outer plate surface.

4 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner sidewall is tapered at 5°-40°.

5 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled side surface of the insert contacts the inner sidewall of the build plate before and after the expansion.

6 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member in cooperation with the insert to bias the insert in the outward position.

7 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the build plate assembly is configured to be mounted to an elevator platform of the additive manufacturing machine.

8 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the insert is a first insert and the receptacle is a first receptacle;

the build plate defines a second receptacle; and

a second insert is seated in the second receptacle and movable within the second receptacle.

9 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the product includes the insert.

10 . The build plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a tab configured to cooperate with a recess of the build plate to align a feature of the insert with the product built on the insert.

11 . A build plate assembly configured for use with an additive manufacturing machine, the build plate assembly comprising: a build plate including: an outer plate surface and an inner plate surface opposite to the outer plate surface; and an internal sidewall extending from the outer plate surface to the inner plate surface to define a receptacle in the build plate, the internal sidewall tapers outward from the outer plate surface to the inner plate surface, the receptacle is smallest at the outer plate surface; an insert seated within the receptacle of the build plate, the insert including: an outer insert surface and an inner insert surface opposite to the outer insert surface, the outer insert surface configured as a build surface to support a product built thereon by the additive manufacturing machine; and an angled side surface extending from the outer insert surface to the inner insert surface, the angled side surface is opposite to the internal sidewall; wherein: in response to heat transferred to the insert from the product being built on the insert, the insert is configured to expand within the receptacle and the receptacle is configured to accommodate the expansion; and in response to the expansion, the angled side surface of the insert slides along the internal sidewall defining the receptacle to draw the insert and slide into the receptacle from an outward position to an inward position into a gap defined by the build plate assembly below the inner insert surface.

12 . The build plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein the insert is biased in the outward position with a spring.

13 . The build plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein the angled side surface is in contact with the internal sidewall.

14 . The build plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein the product includes the build plate.

15 . The build plate assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a backing plate fastened to the build plate.

16 . The build plate assembly of claim 11 , wherein the angled side surface of the insert tapers outward from the outer insert surface to the inner insert surface.

17 . An additive manufacturing machine comprising: an elevator platform; a build plate assembly configured to be mounted to the elevator platform, the build plate assembly including: a build plate including an inner sidewall defining a receptacle extending through the build plate, the inner sidewall tapers outward from an outer plate surface of the build plate, the receptacle is smallest at the outer plate surface; and an insert seated in the receptacle and movable within the receptacle, the insert including a build surface configured to support a product built thereon by the additive manufacturing machine, an inner insert surface opposite to the build surface, and an angled side surface extending between the build surface and the inner insert surface, the angled side surface is opposite to the inner sidewall; wherein: the insert is configured to expand within the receptacle in response to heat transferred to the insert from the product being built on the insert, and the receptacle is configured to accommodate the expansion; and in response to the expansion, the angled side surface of the insert slides along the inner sidewall of the receptacle to draw the insert into the receptacle from an outward position to an inward position into a gap defined by the build plate assembly below the inner insert surface.

18 . The additive manufacturing machine of claim 17 , wherein the angled side surface of the insert tapers outward from the build surface to the inner insert surface.