Enclosed additive manufacturing system
A method of additive manufacture is disclosed. The method may include restricting, by an enclosure, an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure. The method may further include running multiple machines within the enclosure. Each of the machines may execute its own process of additive manufacture. While the machines are running, a gas management system may maintain gaseous oxygen within the enclosure at or below a limiting oxygen concentration for the interior.
1. An additive manufacturing system comprising:
an enclosure restricting an exchange of gaseous matter between an interior of the enclosure and an exterior of the enclosure;
a plurality of machines located within the enclosure, each machine of the plurality of machines comprising
a separate powder bed,
a material dispenser,
one or more image relays,
a control system programmed to control when the material dispenser distributes one or more layers of granules of a powder over the separate powder bed, and
the control system further programmed to control when the one or more image relays direct radiant energy at selected granules within the one or more layers; and
a gas management system maintaining gaseous oxygen within the enclosure below atmospheric level.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises an airlock interfacing between the interior and the exterior.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the airlock comprises a first door, a second door, and a space located between the first door and the second door, the first door, second door, and space being sized to enable one or more humans to pass through the airlock.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas management system maintains gaseous oxygen within the enclosure below a limiting oxygen concentration.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas management system maintains gaseous oxygen within the enclosure below about 500 parts-per-million by volume.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a floor comprising concrete.