US 11,986,884 B2
Apparatus and method for additive manufacturing
MacKenzie Ryan Redding, Mason, OH (US); Andrew David Simpson, Fort Thomas, KY (US); and Justin Mamrak, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Appl. No. 16/761,717
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 2, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/058927
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 5, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/094294, PCT Pub. Date May 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/584,188, filed on Nov. 10, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0370394 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B22F 5/00 (2006.01); B22F 5/10 (2006.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/50 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/37 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01)
CPC B22F 5/009 (2013.01) [B22F 5/106 (2013.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/50 (2021.01); B22F 12/22 (2021.01); B22F 12/37 (2021.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
at least one build unit;
a build platform;
a pair of collectors positioned on the additive manufacturing apparatus such that a first collector contacts an outer surface of an object as it is formed on the build platform and a second collector contacts an inner surface of the object as it is formed on the build platform, wherein the object is formed in a powder bed disposed between the first collector and the second collector, and wherein the first collector and the second collector define a powder cavity and simultaneously hold powder from the powder bed against the outer surface and the inner surface of the object during a build process, wherein the first collector comprises a first collection arm; and
a first sealing member on an end of the first collection arm such that the contact between the first sealing member and the outer surface of the object holds the powder within the powder cavity.