US 12,454,003 B2
Laser melting additive manufacturing equipment with anti-turbulence shields
Matthieu Vial, Moissy-Cramayel (FR)
Assigned to SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, Paris (FR)
Appl. No. 17/638,392
Filed by SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, Paris (FR)
PCT Filed Aug. 26, 2020, PCT No. PCT/FR2020/051503
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 25, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/038170, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1909471 (FR), filed on Aug. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0297189 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 64/371 (2017.01); B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/00 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B22F 12/47 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01)
CPC B22F 10/28 (2021.01) [B22F 10/00 (2021.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B22F 12/224 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B22F 12/67 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B22F 12/47 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B22F 2201/10 (2013.01); B22F 2998/10 (2013.01); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laser melting additive manufacturing equipment, comprising:
a laser head configured to emit a laser beam defining a longitudinal axis (X), the laser head being movable;
a first container, a second container, and a third container respectively aligned in a first transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), the second container being located between the first container and the third container, the first, second, and third containers each comprising a movable platform that can move along the longitudinal axis (X), each platform being configured to receive a thickness of powder, wherein free ends of the platforms respectively define three powder beds aligned in a second transverse plane;
a movable scraper;
an electronic control system configured to move the movable scraper in a third transverse plane which is transverse with respect to the platforms of the first, second, and third containers so as to be in contact with each of the powder beds;
a first movable shield and a second movable shield, wherein the electronic control system is configured to move the first and second movable shields in the third transverse plane between:
a melting position in which the first shield is located between the first container and the second container and in which the second shield is located between the second container and the third container, and
a reloading position in which the first and second shields are located at a transverse end of the third container;
an inert gas projection system comprising at least one gas flow grid, wherein the first and second shields each comprise a movable wall having a depth as measured along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and parallel to the second plane, at least equal to that of the second container and a height along the axis (X) at least equal to that of the at least one gas flow grid,
wherein the electronic control system is configured to move the first and second shields in correlation with the movement of the laser head.