LOAD GENERATION DEVICE FOR A POWDER MODULE OF AN APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS
Load generation device ( 15 ) for a powder module ( 3, 4 ) of an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which powder module ( 3, 4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein the load generation device ( 15 ) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3, 4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), wherein at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) is adapted to apply a force on the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ).
1 . Load generation device ( 15 ) for a powder module ( 3 , 4 ) of an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, which powder module ( 3 , 4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein the load generation device ( 15 ) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 , 4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), characterized by at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) adapted to apply a force on the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ).
2 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized by at least one position determination device ( 21 ) adapted to determine a position and/or a travel path of the carrying element ( 13 ), in particular relative to an initial position of the carrying element ( 13 ).
3 . Load generation device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one position determination device ( 21 ) is built as or comprises at least one
optical determination unit, in particular as laser interferometer, and/or
capacitive determination unit and/or
inductive determination unit and/or
mechanical determination unit and/or
ultrasonic determination unit and/or
eddy current determination unit.
4 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized by a holding unit adapted to hold the at least one position determination device ( 21 ).
5 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) comprises at least one
hydraulic element and/or
at least one pneumatic element and/or
at least one mechanic element, in particular a spindle drive.
6 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized by at least one load determination unit ( 22 ) adapted to determine a load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ).
7 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) is connected with a positioning device ( 17 ), in particular comprising a spindle drive, adapted to position the load generation unit ( 18 ), in particular relative to the carrying element ( 13 ).
8 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized by a control unit ( 23 ) adapted to control the load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ).
9 . Load generation device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the positioning device ( 17 ) is adapted to position the at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) dependent on the load applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) that is controlled via the control unit ( 23 ).
10 . Load generation device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the positioning device ( 17 ) and/or the control unit ( 23 ) are adapted to control the force applied via each load generation unit ( 18 ), in particular adapted to match the force applied via all load generation units ( 18 ).
11 . Load generation device according to claim 9 , characterized in that the control unit ( 23 ) is adapted to control the force applied via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) dependent on a preset parameter, in particular dependent on a powder chamber volume ( 24 ) and/or a build material parameter, preferably the density of the build material used in the powder module ( 3 , 4 ).
12 . Load generation device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the load generation device ( 15 ) comprises four load generation units ( 18 ), preferably arranged symmetrical with respect to the carrying element ( 13 ).
13 . Apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a powder module ( 3 , 4 ) comprising a carrying device ( 11 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive a carrying element ( 13 ), characterized by a load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to claim 1 , separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 , 4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), which load generation device ( 15 ) comprises at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) adapted to apply a force on the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ).
14 . Method for operating at least one load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to claim 1 , for a powder module ( 3 , 4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional which powder module ( 3 , 4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), wherein the load generation device ( 15 ) is separably connected or connectable with the powder module ( 3 , 4 ) or the apparatus ( 1 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of the apparatus ( 1 ), characterized in that a force is applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 ).
15 . Method for operating at least one load generation device ( 15 ), in particular a load generation device ( 15 ) according to claim 1 , for a powder module ( 3 , 4 ) for an apparatus ( 1 ) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional which powder module ( 3 , 4 ) comprises a carrying device ( 11 ) with at least one moveable carrying element ( 13 ) with a drive device ( 12 ) adapted to drive the carrying element ( 13 ), characterized by the steps:
the load generation device ( 15 ) is connected to a powder module ( 3 , 4 ), in particular inside a process chamber ( 10 ) of an additive manufacturing apparatus ( 1 )
a force is applied onto the carrying element ( 13 ) of the powder module ( 3 , 4 ) via at least one load generation unit ( 18 ) of the load generation device ( 15 ), wherein at least one force component is applied in the movement direction or against the movement direction of the carrying element ( 13 )
a position and/or a travel path of the carrying element ( 13 ) is determined for at least one position of the carrying element ( 13 ), preferably in a loaded and an unloaded state
the load generation device ( 15 ) is disconnected from the powder module ( 3 , 4 ), in particular removed from a process chamber ( 10 ) of the additive manufacturing apparatus ( 1 ).