US 11,794,412 B2
Method and apparatus for layer thickness control in additive manufacturing
Meredith Elissa Dubelman, Liberty Township, OH (US); Mary Kathryn Thompson, Hamilton, OH (US); Christopher Barnhill, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Xi Yang, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/280,336.
Prior Publication US 2020/0262150 A1, Aug. 20, 2020
Int. Cl. G06F 19/00 (2018.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/245 (2017.01); B29C 64/135 (2017.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01)
CPC B29C 64/393 (2017.08) [B29C 64/135 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
a build surface at least a portion of which is transparent configured to move in a downstream direction;
a first material depositor operable to deposit a curable resin to form a deposited resin layer on the build surface, the deposited resin layer being transported in the downstream direction by the build surface;
a stage positioned facing the build surface and configured to hold a stacked arrangement of one or more cured layers of the resin;
one or more actuators operable to change the relative positions of the build surface and the stage;
a radiant energy apparatus positioned adjacent to the build plate opposite to the stage, and operable to generate and project radiant energy on the resin through the build plate in a predetermined pattern;
a first sensing device configured to measure the thickness of the deposited resin layer, wherein the at least one first sensing device is configured to generate a signal indicative of the thickness of the deposited resin layer;
a first thickness adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the thickness of the deposited resin layer in response to the signal; and
an adjustment device configured to adjust the first thickness adjusting mechanism.