Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects
Apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects ( 2 ) by successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material ( 3 ) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam ( 4 ), the apparatus comprising: a first detection device ( 15 ) adapted to detect at least one first process parameter (P 1 ), particularly during operation of the apparatus ( 1 ), and to generate a first data set (DS 1 ) comprising information relating to the detected first process parameter (P 1 ); at least one second detection device ( 16 ) adapted to detect at least one second process parameter (P 2 ), particularly during operation of the apparatus ( 1 ), and to generate at least one second data set (DS 2 ) comprising information relating to the detected second process parameter (P 2 ); a data processing device ( 18 ) adapted to link the first data set (DS 1 ) with the at least one second data set (DS 1 ).
1. An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:
a first detection device configured to detect a first process parameter during operation of the apparatus, and to generate a first data set comprising information relating to the first process parameter;
a second detection device configured to detect a second process parameter during operation of the apparatus, and to generate a second data set comprising information relating to the second process parameter; and
a data processing device configured to determine a mutual dependency between the first process parameter and the second process parameter, the mutual dependency based at least in part on the first data set and the second data set;
wherein the mutual dependency comprises a possible influence or a real influence of the first process parameter on the second process parameter;
wherein the first process parameter comprises a chemical parameter and/or a physical parameter of an atmosphere within a process chamber of the apparatus; and
wherein the second process parameter comprises a chemical parameter, a geometrical parameter, and/or a physical parameter of a melting zone in which build material is heated above its melting point and consolidated by subsequent cooling below its melting point, in a build plane in which the selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material takes place during operation of the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first process parameter comprises a chemical parameter and/or a physical parameter of: a functional device of the apparatus, a gaseous fluid stream streaming through the process chamber of the apparatus, non-consolidated or consolidated portions of a build material layer, or an energy beam for selectively irradiating a build material layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first detection device comprises:
a sensor element configured to detect the first process parameter.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second detection device comprises:
a sensor element configured to detect the second process parameter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a process control device configured to control the first process parameter and/or the second process parameter based at least in part on the mutual dependency.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
an information output device configured to output audio information and/or video information, the audio information and/or the video information relating to the mutual dependency.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the audio information comprises an audio warning and/or the video information comprises a video warning.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a data storage device configured to store the mutual dependency of the first process parameter and the second process parameter.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the possible influence or the real influence of the first process parameter on the second process parameter comprises a possible influence or a real influence of a change to the first process parameter on the second process parameter.
10. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:
detecting, with a first detection device, a first process parameter during operation of the apparatus, and generating a first data set comprising information relating to the first process parameter;
detecting, with a second detection device, a second process parameter during operation of the apparatus, and generating a second data set comprising information relating to the second process parameter; and
determining, with a data processing device, a mutual dependency between the first process parameter and the second process parameter, the mutual dependency based at least in part on the first data set and the second data set;
wherein the mutual dependency comprises a possible or real influence of the first process parameter on the second process parameter;
wherein the first process parameter comprises a chemical parameter and/or a physical parameter of an atmosphere within a process chamber of the apparatus; and
wherein the second process parameter comprises a chemical parameter, a geometrical parameter, and/or a physical parameter of a melting zone in which build material is heated above its melting point and consolidated by subsequent cooling below its melting point, in a build plane in which the selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of build material takes place during operation of the apparatus.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first process parameter comprises a chemical parameter and/or a physical parameter of: a functional device of the apparatus, a gaseous fluid stream streaming through the process chamber of the apparatus, non-consolidated or consolidated portions of a build material layer, or an energy beam for selectively irradiating a build material layer.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first detection device comprises:
a sensor element configured to detect the first process parameter.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second detection device comprises:
a sensor element configured to detect the second process parameter.
14. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
controlling, with a process control device, the first process parameter and/or the second process parameter based at least in part on the mutual dependency.
15. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
outputting, with an information output device, audio information and/or video information, the audio information and/or the video information relating to the mutual dependency.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the audio information comprises an audio warning and/or the video information comprises a video warning.
17. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
storing, with a data storage device, the mutual dependency of the first process parameter and the second process parameter.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the possible influence or the real influence of the first process parameter on the second process parameter comprises a possible influence or a real influence of a change to the first process parameter on the second process parameter.