IP Library Granted Patent US 11,090,864
Granted Patent B2
US 11,090,864 · App. 16/816,729 · Granted Aug 17, 2021

Device for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects from powdery building material

Inventor: Frank Herzog (Lichtenfels, DE)
Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
B29C64/153B29C35/0805B29C64/20B29C64/259B29C64/386B29C64/40B29C67/0077B33Y30/00B33Y40/00B33Y50/02B29C64/393B29C2035/0838
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,090,864
App. No.
16/816,729
Granted
Aug 17, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object include receiving manufacturing data from a memory chip physically associated with an exchangeable container configured for use with a system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, and controlling a first operation comprising an operation of an active element of the exchangeable container and/or a second operation comprising an operation of a transporting path configured to transport the exchangeable container within the system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, in which controlling the first operation and/or the second operation is based at least in part on an object to be and/or being additively manufactured using the exchangeable container.

Claims (39)

1. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

receiving manufacturing data from a memory chip physically associated with an exchangeable container configured for use with a system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects; and

controlling a first operation comprising an operation of an active element of the exchangeable container and/or controlling a second operation comprising an operation of a transporting path configured to transport the exchangeable container within the system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects;

wherein controlling the first operation and/or controlling the second operation is based at least in part on an object to be and/or being additively manufactured using the exchangeable container.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active element of the exchangeable container comprises: a servomotor, a heating element, a cooling element, a ventilating motor, or a suction extraction element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the first operation comprises:

adjusting a height of a building platform within the exchangeable container using the active element of the exchangeable container.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the first operation comprises:

heating the exchangeable container using the active element of the exchangeable container; and/or

cooling the exchangeable container using the active element of the exchangeable container.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling the first operation comprises:

venting the exchangeable container using the active element of the exchangeable container.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

controlling a first operation based at least in part on the manufacturing data from the memory chip; and/or

controlling the second operation based at least in part on the manufacturing data from the memory chip.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising:

determining the object to be and/or being additively manufactured using the exchangeable container based at least in part on the manufacturing data from the memory chip.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising:

associating the manufacturing data from the memory chip with the object to be and/or being additively manufactured using the exchangeable container.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising:

configuring the manufacturing data on the memory chip for controlling the first operation; and/or

configuring the manufacturing data on the memory chip for controlling the second operation.

10. The method of claim 1 , comprising controlling the first operation during an additive manufacturing process and/or one or more subsequent processing steps.

11. The method of claim 1 , comprising controlling the second operation during movement of the exchangeable container along the transporting path.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transporting path is configured to move the exchangeable container to one or more of a plurality of locations, the plurality of locations comprising one or more devices for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, one or more processing stations, and/or one or more storage stations.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

reading the manufacturing data from the memory chip using one or more electronic reading devices, wherein the one or more electronic reading devices are located at a device for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, at a processing station, at a storage station, and/or along the transporting path.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processing stations comprises: a milling station, a thermal treatment station, a polishing station, a handling station, an optical measuring station, and/or a disinfection station.

15. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

identifying the exchangeable container from among a plurality of exchangeable containers based at least in part on the manufacturing data from the memory chip.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

deploying the exchangeable container from a storage site.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the second operation comprises controlling a transporting mechanism.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transporting mechanism comprises a carriage, a conveyor belt, or a diverting device.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is integrated within the exchangeable container or detachably or undetachably fastened to the exchangeable container, and/or disposed within a portion of unsolidified building material within the exchangeable container, and/or connected to or integrated within a building plate disposed within the exchangeable container.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor associated with a system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving manufacturing data from a memory chip physically associated with an exchangeable container configured for use with a system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects; and

controlling a first operation comprising an operation of an active element of the exchangeable container and/or controlling a second operation comprising an operation of a transporting path configured to transport the exchangeable container within the system for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects;

wherein controlling the first operation and/or controlling the second operation is based at least in part on an object to be and/or being additively manufactured using the exchangeable container.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2020
From: HERZOG, FRANK
To: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
Reel/Frame 053274/0495 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2020
From: HERZOG, FRANK
To: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
Reel/Frame 052097/0712 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 12, 2020
From: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
To: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
Reel/Frame 052159/0955 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102014007408.0 · May 21, 2014 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15312175
Related Publication 20200207014A1 · Jul 2, 2020