A METHOD FOR THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A PART BY SELECTIVE MELTING OR SELECTIVE SINTERING OF OPTIMIZED-COMPACTNESS POWDER BEDS USING A HIGH ENERGY BEAM

摘要

A method for fabricating a part by selective melting or sintering of powder beds by high energy beam, the method including a) providing a material in the form of powder particles; b) depositing a first powder layer on a support; c) scanning a region of the first layer with the beam to heat the powder locally to a temperature higher than the powder sintering temperature, such that the powder particles as melted or sintered form a first single-piece element; d) depositing a second powder layer on the first powder layer; e) scanning a region of the second layer with the beam to heat the powder to a temperature higher than the powder sintering temperature, so that the particles of powder as sintered or melted form a second single-piece element; and f) repeating d) and e) for each new powder layer laid over a preceding layer until the part is formed.

主权项

1. A fabrication method for fabricating a part by selective melting or selective sintering of powder beds by high energy beam, the method comprising:
a) providing a material in the form of powder particles; b) depositing a first powder layer of said material on a build support; c) scanning at least one region of said first powder layer with the high energy beam so as to heat the powder of said region locally to a temperature higher than the sintering temperature of the powder, such that the particles of said powder as melted or sintered in said region form at least a first single-piece element; d) depositing a second powder layer of said material on said first powder layer; e) scanning at least one region of said second powder layer with the high energy beam so as to heat the powder of said region of said second powder layer to a temperature higher than the sintering temperature of the powder, so that the particles of powder as sintered or melted form at least one second single-piece element; and f) repeating steps d) and e) for each new powder layer to be laid over a preceding layer until the part has been completely formed; wherein the powder comprises a grain size distribution that is multimodal and wherein, between steps a) and b), said powder is continuously preheated to a preheat temperature and an inert gas is caused to flow through said powder so as to diminish air humidity adsorbed on the surface of the powder particles.