IP Library Granted Patent US 12,097,659
Granted Patent B2
US 12,097,659 · App. 17/969,284 · Granted Sep 24, 2024

Exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system with air curtain isolation mechanism

Inventors: Chao-Yaug Liao (Taoyuan, TW); Bo-Ren Chen (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: National Central University
B29C64/364B29C64/295B33Y30/00B33Y40/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,097,659
App. No.
17/969,284
Granted
Sep 24, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to an exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system. The system includes a manufacturing spindle; a thermal conducting module configured to include a working well in a center portion, wherein the manufacturing spindle is configured to rotate in the working well and the manufacturing spindle and the working well defines a manufacturing area; and an air curtain isolation mechanism module, configured to attach on a peripheral region in proximity to the thermal conducting module to actively generate an airflow across the working well and the manufacturing area to isolate the manufacturing area from an external environment.

Claims (50)

1. An exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system, comprising:

a thermal conducting module;

a manufacturing platform and a plurality of flat additive manufacturing assembly components, wherein the plurality of flat additive manufacturing assembly components are selectively attached to a center portion of the thermal conducting module to form a working well, the manufacturing platform is selectively configured in the working well and moves along the working well and the manufacturing platform and the working well define a manufacturing area;

a manufacturing spindle and a plurality of curve additive manufacturing assembly components, wherein the plurality of curve additive manufacturing assembly components are selectively attached to the center portion of the thermal conducting module to form the working well, the manufacturing spindle is selectively configured to rotate in the working well and the manufacturing spindle and the working well define the manufacturing area; and

an air curtain isolation mechanism module, configured to attach on a peripheral region in proximity to the thermal conducting module to actively generate an airflow across the working well and the manufacturing area to isolate the manufacturing area from an external environment,

wherein the exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system is formed as a three-dimensional additive manufacturing machine by selectively configuring with the manufacturing platform and the plurality of flat additive manufacturing assembly components or a rotary additive manufacturing machine by selectively configuring with the manufacturing spindle and the plurality of curve additive manufacturing assembly components.

2. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising one of:

the thermal conducting module further comprising a medium channel inside providing for a heat transfer medium flowing therein, wherein the medium channel has an entrance configured at a bottom side of the thermal conducting module;

a three-dimensional motion mechanism comprising a gantry multi-axis motion platform to carry a nozzle and drive the nozzle to move along an X-axis track, a Y-axis track and a Z-axis track to move toward an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction and a Z-axis direction respectively;

the nozzle being positioned on the manufacturing area by the three-dimensional motion mechanism;

a circulated cooling unit configured to actively cool down the heat transfer medium;

a circulated heating unit configured to actively heat up the heat transfer medium;

a circulating pipe communicating between the circulated cooling unit and the thermal conducting module or communicating between the circulated heating unit and the thermal conducting module, and providing for the heat transfer medium flowing therein;

a manufacturing platform controlling module comprising a linear motor to drive the manufacturing platform moving along the working well; and

a spindle controlling module comprising a step motor to drive the manufacturing spindle to rotate.

3. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the air curtain isolation mechanism module further comprises one of:

an airflow generating unit abutting on the thermal conducting module;

an airflow generating unit inlet and an airflow generating unit outlet;

a cross flow fan drawing in an air from the airflow generating unit inlet to generate the airflow and draining out the airflow from the airflow generating unit outlet;

a first electric machine driving the cross flow fan rotating to generate the airflow; and

a first air deflector configured at the airflow generating unit outlet to guide the airflow;

an airflow drawing unit abutting on the thermal conducting module and opposite to the airflow generating unit in position;

an airflow drawing unit inlet and an airflow drawing unit outlet;

an axial fan drawing in the airflow from the airflow drawing unit inlet and draining out the airflow from the airflow drawing unit outlet;

a second electric machine driving the axial fan rotating to draw in the airflow; and

a second air deflector configured at the airflow drawing unit inlet to guide the airflow;

an airflow circulating pipe communicating the airflow drawing unit outlet and the airflow generating unit inlet to form an airflow circulating path;

a humidity controller configured on the airflow circulating path;

a temperature controller configured on the airflow circulating path; and

an air filter configured on the airflow circulating path.

4. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer medium is a coolant liquid, a circulating fluid or an Ethanol.

5. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the thermal conducting module further comprises one of:

a curve additive manufacturing positioning component;

the plurality of curve additive manufacturing assembly components being attached to the thermal conducting module through guidance of the curve additive manufacturing positioning component, to configure in the center portion to form an inner wall of the working well, so to render the exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system to be formed as the rotary additive manufacturing machine;

a flat additive manufacturing positioning component; and

the plurality of flat additive manufacturing assembly components being attached to the thermal conducting module through guidance of the flat additive manufacturing positioning component, to configure in the center portion to form an inner wall of the working well, so to render the exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system to be formed as the three-dimensional additive manufacturing machine.

6. An exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system, comprising:

a manufacturing spindle;

a thermal conducting module configured to include a working well in a center portion, wherein the manufacturing spindle is configured to rotate in the working well and the manufacturing spindle and the working well defines a manufacturing area; and

an air curtain isolation mechanism module, configured to attach on a peripheral region in proximity to the thermal conducting module to actively generate an airflow across the working well and the manufacturing area to isolate the manufacturing area from an external environment.

7. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the thermal conducting module further comprises one of:

a curve additive manufacturing positioning component; and

the plurality of curve additive manufacturing assembly components being attached to the thermal conducting module through guidance of the curve additive manufacturing positioning component, to configure in the center portion to form an inner wall of the working well, so to render the exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system to be formed as the rotary additive manufacturing machine.

8. An exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system, comprising:

a manufacturing platform;

a thermal conducting module configured to include a working well in a center portion, wherein the manufacturing platform is configured in the working well and moves along the working well and the manufacturing platform and the working well define a manufacturing area; and

an air curtain isolation mechanism module, configured to attach on a peripheral region in proximity to the thermal conducting module to actively generate an airflow across the working well and the manufacturing area to isolate the manufacturing area from an external environment.

9. The exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the thermal conducting module further comprises one of:

a flat additive manufacturing positioning component; and

the plurality of flat additive manufacturing assembly components being attached to the thermal conducting module through guidance of the flat additive manufacturing positioning component, to configure in the center portion to form an inner wall of the working well, so to render the exchangeable additive manufacturing machine system to be formed as the three-dimensional additive manufacturing machine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2022
From: LIAO, CHAO-YAUG; CHEN, BO-REN
To: NATIONAL CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 061478/0746 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 111123517 · Jun 23, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230415419A1 · Dec 28, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,502,836