US 12,304,146 B2
Apparatus for the manufacture of three-dimensional objects
Frederik Tjellesen, London (GB); Anders Hartmann, London (GB); and Alexander Rasmussen, London (GB)
Assigned to Stratasys Powder Production Ltd., London (GB)
Filed by Stratasys Powder Production Ltd., London (GB)
Filed on Aug. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/453,794.
Application 18/453,794 is a continuation of application No. 16/764,924, granted, now 11,780,167, previously published as PCT/GB2018/053336, filed on Nov. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1719096 (GB), filed on Nov. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0405932 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 64/357 (2017.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/50 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B29C 64/214 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/255 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/307 (2017.01); B29C 64/314 (2017.01); B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/13 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/57 (2021.01); B22F 12/63 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/227 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01)
CPC B29C 64/307 (2017.08) [B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/50 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B29C 64/214 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/255 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/314 (2017.08); B29C 64/321 (2017.08); B29C 64/357 (2017.08); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/13 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/57 (2021.01); B22F 12/63 (2021.01); B22F 12/90 (2021.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/227 (2017.08); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/10 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for recirculating powder in an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional object from powder, the apparatus including a work surface having a build area, the method comprising, during layer deposition and pattern formation for the object:
(a) providing powder in a powder repository, wherein said powder in the powder repository is one of fresh powder, excess powder or a blend of fresh powder and excess powder;
(b) transferring the powder from the powder repository to the work surface;
(c) distributing the powder across the build area and resulting in a portion of the powder defining excess powder;
(d) returning the excess powder from the work surface back to the powder repository;
(e) monitoring the amount of powder in the powder repository relative to a predetermined amount of powder; and
(f) delivering fresh powder from a powder tank to the powder repository when the amount of powder in the powder repository is less than the predetermined amount of powder, and not delivering fresh powder from the powder tank to the powder repository when excess powder is being returned to the powder repository and the amount of powder in the powder repository is greater than the predetermined amount of powder.