US 12,240,038 B2
Method of operating an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece and apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece
André Schoebel, Luebeck (DE)
Assigned to Nikon SLM Solutions AG, Luebeck (DE)
Appl. No. 17/928,407
Filed by Nikon SLM Solutions AG, Luebeck (DE)
PCT Filed Jun. 15, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/066017
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/259695, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 116 415.7 (DE), filed on Jun. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0201926 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/366 (2021.01); B22F 10/368 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 10/28 (2021.01) [B22F 10/366 (2021.01); B22F 10/368 (2021.01); B22F 10/38 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 8 Claims
 
1. A method of operating an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the method comprising the steps:
a) applying a layer of raw material powder onto a carrier;
b) selectively irradiating the layer of raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation in accordance with a geometry of a corresponding layer of the work piece to be produced; and
c) repeating steps a) and b) until the work piece has reached a desired shape and size, wherein, for at least a layer portion of at least some of the layers,
an exposure time being defined as a time period during which said layer portion is exposed to electromagnetic or particle radiation,
a waiting time being defined as a time period during which said layer portion is not exposed to electromagnetic or particle radiation and while no new raw material powder layer on top of said layer portion is applied, and
a raw material powder application time being defined as a time period during which a new raw material powder layer is applied on top of said layer portion,
are controlled such that a scanning time from the beginning of an exposure of a respective raw material powder layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation until the beginning of an exposure of the new raw material powder layer applied on top of said layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation which is defined by the equation:
scanning time=the exposure time+the waiting time+the raw material powder application time
does not fall below a specific minimum value which is individually set for said layer portion in dependence on a layer portion specific quality parameter,
wherein the layer portion specific quality parameter is indicative of a temperature of a respective layer portion at a predetermined time, such that the scanning time is controlled in dependence on the temperature of the respective layer portion at the predetermined time.