US 12,251,876 B2
Method and apparatus for producing an object by means of additive manufacturing
Ronnie Herman Anna Hensen, Eindhoven (NL); Mark Herman Else Vaes, Eindhoven (NL); and Rob Peter Albert Van Haendel, Eindhoven (NL)
Assigned to Additive Industries B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by Additive Industries B.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on Feb. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/439,262.
Application 18/439,262 is a division of application No. 17/260,130, granted, now 11,931,962, previously published as PCT/NL2019/050373, filed on Jun. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2021323 (NL), filed on Jul. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0227299 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/30 (2017.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/32 (2021.01); B22F 10/77 (2021.01); B23K 26/34 (2014.01); B23K 26/354 (2014.01); B29C 64/371 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01)
CPC B29C 64/371 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/32 (2021.01); B22F 10/77 (2021.01); B23K 26/34 (2013.01); B23K 26/354 (2015.10); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B22F 12/90 (2021.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
16. An apparatus for producing an object by additive manufacturing, comprising:
a process chamber for receiving a bath of material, wherein a surface level of the bath of material defines an object working area;
a solidifying device for solidifying a selective layer-part of the material on the surface level;
an oxidization device configured for controlled oxidization of waste particles originating from the solidifying of the material, by controlling an oxygen level in the process chamber, in use, such that oxidized waste particles are obtained and ignition of the waste particles is avoided; and
a measurement device for measuring the oxygen level in the process chamber,
wherein the oxidation device is configured, during the step of controlled oxidization, to control an amount of oxygen supplied based on the oxygen level measured in the process chamber.
 
1. A method for producing an object by additive manufacturing, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, in a process chamber, a bath of material, wherein a surface level of the bath of material defines an object working area;
solidifying, by a solidifying device, a selective layer-part of the material on the surface level;
controlled oxidization, of waste particles originating from the solidifying of the material, by controlling an oxygen level in the process chamber, such that oxidized waste particles are obtained and ignition of the waste particles is avoided; and
measuring, by a measurement device, the oxygen level in the process chamber,
wherein during the step of controlled oxidization, a controlled amount of oxygen is supplied to the waste particles to obtain the oxidized waste particles while avoiding ignition of the waste particles, and wherein the controlled amount of oxygen is supplied to the waste particles based on the measured oxygen level.