Additive manufacturing system and method
An additive manufacturing system including a two-dimensional energy patterning system for imaging a powder bed is disclosed. Improved structure formation, part creation and manipulation, use of multiple additive manufacturing systems, and high throughput manufacturing methods suitable for automated or semi-automated factories are also disclosed.
1. A manufacturing method, comprising the steps of:
providing a powdered material;
providing an energy source that produces an energy beam;
directing the energy beam from the energy source toward an energy beam patterning unit to form a two-dimensional patterned energy beam;
directing the two-dimensional patterned energy beam against the powdered material to form a part having a manipulation point;
moving the part using a manipulator device to engage the manipulation point; and
in response to the manipulation point comprising a hole or cavity, removing the manipulation point by filling the hole or cavity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the manipulator device further comprises a robot arm.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing the manipulation point by clipping the manipulation point in response to the manipulation point comprising a projecting tab.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of reorienting the part using a manipulation device before adding more powdered material.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of moving the part using the manipulation device to maneuver the part to another processing area.