Local collection of contaminants formed during metal powder bed fusion process

US11772162B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Md Ashabul Anam · Sterling Heights, US
• Mark A. Smith · Huntington Woods, US
• Tyson W. Brown · Royal Oak, US
• Richard J. Skurkis · Lake Orion, US
• HyungMin Chae · Troy, US
• Whitney A. Poling · Rochester Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2020
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A powder bed fusion system includes a powder bed including a build surface and a vacuum system. The vacuum system includes a collection device positioned over the build surface. The collection device includes a body, a pathway defined in the body, wherein the pathway ends in a passageway opening, and a particle retainer connected to the body near the passageway opening. A method of forming a component includes forming a layer of unfused metal powder on a powder bed with a recoater, introducing gas to the powder bed and applying a vacuum with a collection device, fusing a portion of the layer of unfused metal powder on the powder bed with a heat source to form a component layer and generating contaminants, collecting the contaminants from the powder bed with the gas and the vacuum applied by the collection device.