US 11,718,033 B2
Systems and methods for powder recovery, cleaning, and blending, for additive manufacturing
Jonah Myerberg, Lexington, MA (US); and Peter Schmitt, Brookline, MA (US)
Assigned to Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed by Desktop Metal, Inc., Burlington, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/98,739.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/936,214, filed on Nov. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0146622 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/357 (2017.01); B29C 64/35 (2017.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B07B 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/357 (2017.08) [B07B 9/00 (2013.01); B29C 64/35 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of recycling build material powder, comprising the steps of:
collecting in at least one keg an amount of excess build material powder during the process of additively manufacturing a part cake and, separately, collecting in a fines collecting container an amount of printing fines generated during the process of additively manufacturing the part cake;
transferring the part cake and the at least one keg to a de-powdering station;
de-powdering the part cake to release a mixture of reusable powder, de-powdering fines, and contaminants;
sieving the mixture of reusable powder and contaminants to deposit the reusable powder to the at least one keg for removing at least some of the contaminants, and separately, collecting the de-powdering fines using a fines collection system;
combining at least one of the printing fines and the de-powdering fines with the reusable powder in the at least one keg;
disposing at least one of the at least one kegs on a blending station and agitating the at least one keg to mix the combination of the reusable powder and at least one of the printing fines and the de-powdering fines until is suitable for further additive manufacturing of part cake.