PARTICLE SEPARATOR FOR AN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

A aerodynamic particle separator for an Additive Manufacturing System (AMS) has an air supply device to entrain a mixed powder in an airstream flowing through a housing. Each particle in the mixed powder is imparted with a momentum dependent upon the particle weight and size. Utilizing this momentum characteristic, the heavier particles are capable of crossing streamlines of the airstream at a bend portion of the housing and the lighter particles generally stay within the streamlines. Utilizing this dynamic characteristic, the particles of specific weight ranges are collected through respective offtake holes in the housing and controllably fed to a spreader of the AMS.