US 12,290,982 B2
Method for operating at least one apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects
Tim Döhler, Grosheirath (DE)
Assigned to Concept Laser GmbH, Lichtenfels (DE)
Filed by Concept Laser GmbH, Lichtenfels (DE)
Filed on Oct. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/072,291.
Application 17/072,291 is a continuation of application No. 15/939,198, filed on Mar. 28, 2018, granted, now 10,807,195.
Claims priority of application No. 17182657 (EP), filed on Jul. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0039202 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/20 (2017.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/70 (2021.01); B22F 12/17 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B23K 26/342 (2014.01); B23K 26/70 (2014.01); B29C 64/357 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/20 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/70 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B23K 26/342 (2015.10); B23K 26/702 (2015.10); B29C 64/357 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B22F 12/17 (2021.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, the apparatus comprising:
an irradiation device configured to selectively irradiate successive layers of a build material via an energy beam within a build chamber, wherein waste thermal energy is produced during selective irradiation of the build material from at least one of irradiation reflected from the build material or a wall portion of the apparatus having been heated during operation of the apparatus, wherein the wall portion of the apparatus comprises a heated streaming channel wall defining an inner streaming volume configured to receive a stream of process gas from the build chamber during operation of the apparatus; and
an energy converting device configured to convert at least a portion of the waste thermal energy into energy for storage and/or subsequent consumption by one or more energy consuming devices.