US 11,780,164 B2
Airflow control for additive manufacturing
Andrew Martin, Blue Ash, OH (US); and Justin Mamrak, Bamberg (DE)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/397,356.
Application 17/397,356 is a division of application No. 15/703,600, filed on Sep. 13, 2017, granted, now 11,117,320.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362416 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B29C 64/241 (2017.01); B29C 64/188 (2017.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/371 (2017.01); G05B 19/4099 (2006.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/37 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); B22F 12/52 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 10/32 (2021.01); B22F 10/366 (2021.01)
CPC B29C 64/241 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 12/37 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.08); B29C 64/188 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B29C 64/371 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); G05B 19/4099 (2013.01); B22F 10/32 (2021.01); B22F 10/366 (2021.01); B22F 12/49 (2021.01); B22F 12/52 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 2201/00 (2013.01); B22F 2999/00 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing an object comprising:
positioning a build unit with a mechanism configured to provide independent movement of at least one build unit in at least two dimensions, wherein the build unit includes at least one gas flow device capable of providing a gas flow zone along a first direction with relation to the build unit, wherein the first direction extends substantially parallel to a build platform or a layer of powder disposed thereon;
irradiating a powder along a first irradiation path to form a first solidification line at least partially at a first angle; and
irradiating a powder along a second irradiation path to form a second solidification line at least partially at an angle other than 0º and 180º with respect to the first solidification line, wherein during the formation of the first solidification line the build unit is positioned in a first orientation such that the first direction of the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line, and during the formation of the second solidification line the build unit is positioned in a second orientation such that the flow zone along the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second solidification line,
wherein the first direction is different from a propagation direction of an irradiation beam from an irradiation beam directing unit; and
wherein the build unit is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction.