Methods for additively manufacturing components using lattice support structures

US11440097B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Ryan Christopher Jones · West Chester, US
• Jun Zheng Hu · Cincinnati, US
• John Alan Manteiga · North Andover, US
• Xuefeng Zhang · Mason, US
• Earl Neal Dunham · Hamilton, US
• Paul Christopher Schilling · Neckargemünd, DE
• Johnnattan Tennessee Ugarte · Evendale, US
• Justin Michael Stekli · Dayton, US
• Justin Adam Masters · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 2019
• Grant date: Sep 13, 2022
• Expiry date: May 29, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B33Y50/02
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for additively manufacturing a component includes generating, via imaging software, a plurality of slices of a support structure of the component based on component geometry. The method also includes melting or fusing, via the additive manufacturing system, layers of material to a build platform of the component so as to form the support structure according to the plurality of slices. The support structure includes a lattice configuration having of a plurality of support members arranged together to form a plurality of cells. Further, the method includes melting or fusing, via the additive manufacturing system, a component body to the support structure. After the component body solidifies, the method includes removing all of the support structure from the component body to form the component.