Apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional articles

Abstract

A method for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a model of the at least one three-dimensional article; applying a first powder layer on a work table; directing a first energy beam from a first energy beam source over the work table causing the first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to corresponding models to form a first cross section of the three-dimensional article, where the first energy beam is fusing at least a first region of a first cross section with parallel scan lines in a first direction; varying a distance between two adjacent scan lines, which are used for fusing the powder layer, as a function of a mean length of the two adjacent scan lines.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming at least one three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed, which parts correspond to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article, said apparatus comprising:
 a control unit having stored thereon a computer model of said at least one three-dimensional article; and   at least one energy beam from at least one energy beam source, the at least one energy beam source being at least one of an electron beam or a laser beam,   wherein the control unit is configured to:
 determine a length of at least one of two adjacent of two or more parallel scan lines either applied to the first powder layer or to be applied to the first powder layer; 
 set a distance between the two adjacent of two or more parallel scan lines as a function of the determined length, wherein the function of the determined length is such that as the determined length increases: (a) the distance increases while the determined length is less than a predetermined value, and (b) the distance is a constant value while the determined length is equal to or greater than the predetermined value; and 
 direct the at least one energy beam over said work table so as to cause said first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to a corresponding model of said at least one three-dimensional article so as to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, where the at least one energy beam is configured to fuse at least a first region of a first cross section either with said two adjacent of said two or more parallel scan lines extending in a first direction and separated by said set distance, or with at least one additional parallel scan line extending in said first direction and separated from said two adjacent of said two or more parallel scan lines by said set distance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said distance is also a function of the sequence of said adjacent scan lines. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first set of two adjacent scan lines are separated with a first distance;   a second set of two adjacent scan lines, provided later than said first set of adjacent scan lines, are separated with a second distance; and   said first distance is smaller than said second distance.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said distance is determined based upon at least one of: a function of the mean length of said two adjacent scan lines, a function of the longest of said two adjacent scan lines, or a function of the shortest of said two adjacent scan lines. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit is further configured to keep at least one of a scan speed, an energy beam power, or an energy beam spot size on said powder layer constant for said two adjacent scan lines. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit is further configured to keep a time sink and a scan line time constant for each scan line in at least one cross section of said three-dimensional article. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said distance between two adjacent scan lines varies at least one of: linearly as a function of a mean length of said two adjacent scan lines up to said predetermined value, or as a function of the shortest scan line of said two adjacent scan lines up to said predetermined value. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said energy beam is at least one of an electron beam or a laser beam. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scan lines in at least one layer of at least one three-dimensional article are straight lines. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scan lines in at least one layer of at least one three-dimensional region are meandering lines. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one energy beam comprises a first energy beam from a first energy beam source and a second energy beam from a second energy beam source; and   the adjacent scan lines in at least a first region are fused with the first energy beam and the second energy beam.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first energy beam is emanating from a first electron beam source; and   said second energy beam is emanating from a first laser beam source.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first energy beam is emanating from a first electron beam source; and   said second energy beam is emanating from a second electron beam source.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said first energy beam is emanating from a first laser beam source; and   said second energy beam is emanating from a second laser beam source.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second energy beams are configured to fuse said adjacent scan lines simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjacent scan lines in at least a first region are fused with a first energy beam from a first energy beam source and a second energy beam from a second energy beam source;   said first energy beam is emanating from at least one of a first electron beam source or a first laser beam source; and   said second energy beam is emanating from at least one of a second electron beam source or a second laser beam source.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising one or more executable portions configured for:
 directing application of a first powder layer on a work table;   determining a length of at least one of two adjacent of two or more parallel scan lines either applied to the first powder layer or to be applied to the first powder layer;   setting a distance between the two adjacent of two or more parallel scan lines as a function of the determined length, wherein the function of the determined length is such that as the determined length increases: (a) the distance increases while the determined length is less than a predetermined value, and (b) the distance is a constant value while the determined length is equal to or greater than the predetermined value; and   directing a first energy beam from a first energy beam source over said work table so as to cause said first powder layer to fuse in first selected locations according to a corresponding model of said at least one three-dimensional article so as to form a first cross section of said three-dimensional article, where said first energy beam is configured to fuse at least a first region of a first cross section either with said two adjacent of said two or more parallel scan lines extending in a first direction and separated by said set distance, or with at least one additional parallel scan line extending in said first direction and separated from said two adjacent of said two or more parallel scan lines by said set distance.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein said distance is determined based upon at least one of: a function of the mean length of said two adjacent scan lines, a function of the longest of said two adjacent scan lines, or a function of the shortest of said two adjacent scan lines. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further configured for keeping at least one of a scan speed, an energy beam power, or an energy beam spot size on said powder layer constant for said two adjacent scan lines. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , further configured for keeping a time sink and a scan line time constant for each scan line in at least one cross section of said three-dimensional article.