Control systems and methods for additive manufacturing

Abstract

An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a first print module includes a first stage configured to hold a first component and a first radiant energy device. The resin support is configured to be positioned between the first stage and the first radiant energy device. A second print module includes a second stage configured to hold a second component and a second radiant energy device. The resin support is configured to be positioned between the second stage and the second radiant energy device. A control system is configured to translate the resin support based on a condition of the first print module and the second print module through the first print module and the second print module.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
 a first print module including a first radiant energy device and a first stage configured to hold a first additively-manufactured component;   a second print module including a second radiant energy device and a second stage configured to hold a second additively-manufactured component, wherein the first print module and the second print module are configured to receive at least a portion of a resin support between the first stage and the first radiant energy device and between the second stage and the second radiant energy device;   a shared component of the additive manufacturing apparatus operably coupled with the first print module and the second print module; and   a control system configured to control the first print module, the second print module, and the shared component based on one or more parameters that define a building of the first additively-manufactured component or the second additively-manufactured component.   
     
     
         22 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a shared parameter related to at least one of a resin support speed or a slurry thickness that is directed to the shared component of the additive manufacturing apparatus. 
     
     
         23 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a first parameter related to a first print configuration of the first print module. 
     
     
         24 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a second parameter related to a second print configuration of the second print module, the second parameter varied from the first parameter. 
     
     
         25 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control system is further configured to initiate a pre-print system check to assure that each sub-system of the additive manufacturing apparatus that will be utilized is ready for starting a build. 
     
     
         26 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the control system includes a build controller operably coupled with a computing system, and wherein the build controller is further coupled with one or more control devices. 
     
     
         27 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control system is further configured to flush resin from a deposition assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the control system is further configured to set an initial deposition height, wherein the initial deposition height is at least partially based on a defined thickness of a first layer of the first additively-manufactured component or the second additively-manufactured component. 
     
     
         29 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the control system is further configured to activate a material retention assembly to retain the resin support in a predefined position within at least one of the first print module or the second print module. 
     
     
         30 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first additively-manufactured component has a first geometry and the second additively-manufactured component has a second geometry, the first geometry being different from the second geometry. 
     
     
         31 . A method of operating an additive manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing parameters of a build process to a control system;   setting a deposition assembly to an initial height;   performing a resin support recoating; and   performing a first indexing of a resin support having a resin applied thereto to translate the resin support a first linear distance into a first print module and a second print module.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 moving a first stage within the first print module to a first stage position based on a parameter to form a first layer of a first additively-manufactured component; and   moving a second stage within the second print module to a second stage position based on the parameter to form a first layer of a second additively-manufactured component;   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 radiating a first image from a first radiant energy device at a first portion of the resin positioned between the first radiant energy device and a first stage; and   radiating a second image from a second radiant energy device at a second portion of the resin positioned between the second radiant energy device and a second stage.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 calibrating a resin deposition assembly and a drive system prior to translating the resin support into the first print module and the second print module.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 performing a second indexing of the resin support to translate the resin support a second linear distance that is different than the first linear distance when a failure within the first print module or the second print module is detected.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a first stage and a second stage are moved to a separated position prior to performing a second indexing of the resin support to translate the resin support a second linear distance. 
     
     
         37 . An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
 a first print module including a first radiant energy device and a first stage configured to hold a first additively-manufactured component;   a second print module including a second radiant energy device and a second stage configured to hold a second additively-manufactured component, wherein the first print module and the second print module are configured to receive at least a portion of a resin support between the first stage and the first radiant energy device and between the second stage and the second radiant energy device;   a deposition system including a reservoir; and   a control system configured to control the first print module, the second print module, and the deposition system, the control system configured to an amount of resin within the reservoir based one or more parameters that define a building of the first additively-manufactured component or the second additively-manufactured component.   
     
     
         38 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the control system is further configured to flush the resin within the reservoir. 
     
     
         39 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the control system is further configured to refill the reservoir after one or more layers of the first additively-manufactured component or the second additively-manufactured component is formed. 
     
     
         40 . The additive manufacturing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the control system is further configured to drain the resin from the reservoir after a final layer of the first additively-manufactured component or the second additively-manufactured component is formed.