The invention relates to a substrate sheet for the application of at least one first layer of a build-up material for the production of a three-dimensional molded body in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
The present invention deals with generative manufacturing processes in which complex, three-dimensional components are built up in layers from material powders. The application areas for the invention include, in addition to rapid prototyping and the related disciplines of rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing, in particular the production of series tools and functional parts. These include, for example, injection molds with cooling passages close to the surface and also individual parts and small series of functional components for medical technology, mechanical engineering, aircraft and automotive construction.
The generative manufacturing processes which are of relevance to the present invention include laser fusion, which is known, for example, from DE 196 49 865 C1, in the name of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, and laser sintering, which is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, in the name of the University of Texas.
In the laser-melting process which is known from DE 196 49 865 C1, the components are produced from commercially available, single-component metallic material powders without binders or other additional components. For this purpose, the material powder is in each case applied as a thin layer to a building platform. This powder layer is locally fused using a laser beam in accordance with the desired component geometry. The energy of the laser beam is selected in such a way that the metallic material powder is completely fused over its entire layer thickness at the location of incidence of the laser beam. At the same time, a shielding gas atmosphere is maintained above the zone where the laser beam interacts with the metallic material powder, in order to avoid defects in the component which may be caused, for example, by oxidation. It is known to use a device shown in
In the laser-sintering process which is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,538, the components are produced from material powders which have been specially developed for laser sintering and which, in addition to the base material, contain one or more additional components. The different powder components differ in particular in terms of the melting point.
In the case of laser sintering, the material powder is applied to a building platform as a thin layer. This powder layer is locally irradiated with a laser beam in accordance with the geometry data of the component. The low-melting components of the material powder are fused by the laser energy which is introduced, while others remain in the solid state. The layer is secured to the previous layer by means of the fused powder components, which produce a bond on solidification. After a layer has been built up, the building platform is lowered by the thickness of one layer, and a new powder layer is applied from a storage vessel.
During the production of the molded body, for the stepwise application of the build-up material, a carrier is lowered stepwise in a process chamber. In order to minimize thermal stresses in the molded body to be produced, a substrate sheet arranged on the carrier is heated to a temperature of, for example, up to 500° C.
The temperature lag of the substrate sheet and thermal losses due to radiation and convection give rise to a temperature gradient over the thickness of the substrate sheet. This means that the substrate-sheet lower side, which directly faces the carrier, has a higher temperature than the upper side. This has the effect that a greater expansion in length of the lower side of the substrate sheet in comparison to the upper side is provided. In the heated state, a curvature is therefore formed over the substrate sheet, in particular in the case of round substrate sheets in the form of a hollow spherical segment. The substrate sheet then essentially rests at only one point in the center, and the transfer of heat from the carrier to the substrate sheet is reduced and can no longer be ensured.
If the thickness of the substrate sheet is reduced in order to solve the deformation problem, although the absolute difference in temperature between the upper side and the lower side of the substrate sheet is lower, the temperature gradient, by contrast, is steeper. This has the effect that the deformation is even greater. If the thickness of the substrate sheet is increased in order to solve the deformation problem, this does indeed have the advantage that the thicker substrate sheet warps to a lesser extent than a thin substrate sheet, but the disadvantage predominates that the absolute difference in temperature between the upper side and the lower side of the substrate sheet is substantially greater and that a very high force is required in order to keep the substrate sheet in contact with the carrier.
Therefore, the invention is based on the object of providing a substrate sheet in which a small difference in temperature between the lower side and the upper side of the substrate sheet is provided and small pull-down forces are required, in particular in the case of substrate sheets having a large surface area, in order to keep the substrate sheet in contact with the carrier.
This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Expedient developments and refinements of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
By means of the configuration according to the invention of the substrate sheet, which is divided into a supporting section facing the carrier and into a receiving section on the upper side of the substrate sheet, which receiving section serves to receive the molded body to be produced in a layered manner, the advantages of a thick and of a thin substrate sheet are attained and their respective disadvantages are compensated for. The supporting section comprises at least one depression which extends, at least in one direction, from a supporting surface of the supporting section as far as the receiving section of the substrate sheet. The at least one depression in the supporting section causes the distribution of temperature in the substrate sheet to be only slightly affected, so that essentially the distribution of temperature of a thick substrate sheet arises. This makes it possible for the thermal deformations to be smaller. The flexural rigidity is determined essentially only by the thickness of the receiving section. The substrate sheet thickness which is effective for the flexural rigidity is therefore determined by the distance between the base of the at least one depression and the receiving surface on the upper side of the substrate sheet. The at least one depression therefore means that smaller holding forces or pull-down are required in order to compensate for the thermally induced deformations. At the same time, the presence of at least one depression can prevent or considerably reduce warping of the substrate sheet.
The substrate sheet can be provided as such on the carrier or can be part of a pre-manufactured blank which is likewise arranged in the same manner as the substrate sheet as such on the carrier for the production of a three-dimensional molded body or for the completion of a three-dimensional molded body.
According to an advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that the substrate sheet has a supporting section, which is designed with depressions and faces the carrier, and a receiving section, the receiving section being designed to be thinner than the supporting section. The height of the depressions determines the thickness of the supporting section. By means of the depressions, the supporting section is interrupted and the effective thickness of the entire substrate sheet is reduced, with regard to the flexural rigidity of the substrate sheet, to the thickness of the receiving section, so that the pull-down forces are low. At the same time, the supporting section together with the receiving section forms a thick substrate sheet in partial regions, so that the temperature gradient is reduced and low deformation is obtained.
According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, it is provided that a portion of the area of the supporting section which rests on the carrier is designed to be larger than the portion of the area of the depressions that faces the carrier. This ensures a sufficient transportation of heat from the carrier to the receiving section in order to heat up to the substrate sheet or a blank to an operating temperature of, for example, 300° C. to 500° C., thus enabling the molded body to build up in a manner low in internal stresses.
The depressions are advantageously designed as rectangular, semicircular, wedge-shaped, trapezoidal, circular-segment-shaped or polygonal cross sections. The cross-sectional geometry and also the size and the number of depressions depend on a material used for the substrate sheet, the dimensions, the machining temperature and on the properties of the shielding gas stream, such as, for example, thermal conductivity, flow speed and/or gas temperature. A geometry is preferably selected for the depressions and is introduced in the supporting section of the substrate sheet by turning or milling or by erosion.
The supporting section of the substrate sheet advantageously has depressions which run in a star-shaped manner with respect to its central point, are arranged concentrically with its central point, run in a rectilinear or curved manner, run parallel to one another, intersect or are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Any desired combination of the abovementioned arrangement possibilities is advantageously also provided. The depressions may run in a plane along the substrate sheet or may be positioned at different heights or may have jumps in height. During the completion of special blanks or for the production of molded bodies which require a contour deviating from a planar supporting surface, the profiles of the depressions are matched in height, size and profile shape to the corresponding contours in order to obtain a uniformly distributed thermal expansion behavior over the entire substrate sheet.
In order to position and fix the position of the substrate sheet on the carrier, a holding device is preferably provided which is arranged in a position that continues to be maintained irrespective of thermal expansions of the substrate sheet. As a result, a uniform thermal expansion of the substrate sheet takes place during heating to the operating temperature, and stresses between the substrate sheet and the carrier as a consequence of uneven expansions in length are reduced or prevented. At the same time, during cooling of the substrate sheet after production of the molded body, forces directed in the same direction are effective with respect to the fixing point of the substrate sheet, from which fixing point the expansions in length take place during heating.
In order to orient and correctly position the substrate sheet, an orientation element is provided in the supporting section and acts on a complementarily formed orientation element of the carrier. These orientation elements can be designed, for example, as a positioning pin in an elongated hole, the arrangement of the elongated hole being provided either on the carrier or on the supporting section. The one orientation element, which is designed, for example, as a cutout or depression in the shape of an elongated hole, is advantageously oriented with respect to the holding device in such a manner that an expansion in length of the supporting section takes place without obstruction.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding device is arranged in the center of gravity of the area of the substrate sheet. As a result, a largely homogeneous and uniform thermal expansion can take place in all of the directions of the substrate sheet, and the holding device is arranged in a neutral fixing point which is not changed or is virtually unchanged by the thermal expansion.
The holding device is preferably designed as releasable connection which is held with respect to the carrier by a latching or spring element in a manner such that it can be exchanged. This permits a rapid exchange of the substrate sheet or of the completed blank. The set-up times for a subsequent build-up process are reduced.
The holding device advantageously has a locking bolt which can be inserted into a mating element on the carrier. The spring or latching element acts to fix the holding device on the locking bolt, thus obtaining a pulling-down effect in order to bring the supporting section to bear on the carrier. At the same time, the substrate sheet is accurately oriented over a mating surface which is provided on the locking bolt and interacts with the mating element.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one securing element acts on the outer edge region of the supporting section and holds down the outer edge region of the supporting section with respect to the carrier. These securing elements are preferably provided in the case of substrate sheets having relatively large dimensions, in particular having a relatively large external diameter, in order to prevent the substrate sheet warping. These securing elements may be provided in addition to the holding device, with, for example in the case of round substrate sheets, the holding device being provided in the central point and the securing elements being distributed radially over the periphery in the outer edge region. As an alternative, provision may also be made for only the securing elements to be distributed over the periphery in the outer edge region without a holding device being provided.
The securing elements are preferably designed as pull-down threads which are accessible from the upper side of the substrate sheet. This enables access to be provided to the securing element from the outside in order to fix the substrate sheet with respect to the carrier. The securing elements for their part are positioned within the carrier. The securing elements are advantageously designed in such a manner that, after screwing down together with the substrate sheet, they form a completely closed receiving section.
The securing elements are preferably held in a spring-mounted manner in the carrier. The edge region of the supporting section is therefore held down under spring force in order to make it possible for the supporting section to bear securely on the carrier irrespective of the temperature. At the same time, a radial play for receiving the securing elements is advantageously provided, so that thermal expansions in the carrier and in the substrate sheet can take place unobstructed by one another.
In order to increase the degree of automation, it is advantageously provided that the securing elements have a stem which passes through the carrier and is accessible on a lower side of the carrier for an actuating device. As a result, the securing elements can be actuated by handling devices, with only a slight restriction of the construction space being incurred.
According to an alternative refinement of the invention, the holding device is designed as a clamping element which preferably has a draw-in collet, a wing rod, a hollow conical stem or a threaded rod which passes through the carrier and is accessible on a lower side of the carrier via an actuating device. The refinement of a tension rod arrangement has the advantage that a defined clamping force with self-locking is applied in the event of a failure of power. It is readily able to be automated. The embodiment of a wing rod furthermore has the advantage that the clamping elements do not become worn. The refinement of a holding device according to the hollow conical stem principle has the advantage that low demands in terms of manufacturing are made of the clamping bolt and there is self-locking.
According to a further alternative refinement of the invention, it is provided that the securing elements are designed as a rapid clamping device, for example as a helical groove clamping element, and are preferably accessible from the upper side of the substrate sheet. By means of the securing elements, the clamping distance can be limited and a defined clamping force for holding down the substrate sheet with respect to the carrier can be obtained.
The abovementioned embodiments of the holding devices and securing elements can be provided individually or in any desired combination with one another in order to position and fix the substrate sheet or a premanufactured blank with respect to the carrier.
The invention and further advantageous embodiments and developments thereof are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples illustrated in the drawings. According to the invention, the features revealed in the description and the drawings can be employed individually on their own or in any desired combination. In the drawings:
a and b show a perspective view of a substrate sheet according to the invention,
a to c show a diagrammatic illustration of alternative embodiments of the substrate sheet according to the invention according to
a shows a diagrammatic plan view of a first embodiment of a carrier with a substrate sheet in a build-up chamber,
b shows a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line I-I in
c shows a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line II-II in
d shows a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line III-III in
e shows a diagrammatic plan view of a second embodiment of a carrier with a substrate sheet in a build-up chamber,
f shows a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line I-I in
The first process chamber 21 and at least one further process chamber 24 are arranged separately from one another and are hermetically isolated from one another.
The process chamber 21 comprises a base surface 41. A build-up chamber 42, in which a carrier 43 is provided and guided such that it can move up and down, opens out into this base surface 41 from below. The carrier 43 comprises at least one base plate 44, which is driven such that it can be moved up and down by means of a lifting rod or lifting spindle 46. For this purpose, a drive 47, for example a toothed belt drive, is provided to move the fixed lifting spindle 46 up and down. The base plate 44 of the carrier 43 is preferably cooled by a fluid medium, which preferably flows through cooling passages in the base plate 44, at least during the layered build-up. An insulation layer 48 made from a mechanically stable, thermally insulating material is arranged between the base plate 44 and the building platform 49 of the carrier 43. This prevents the lifting spindle 46 from being heated by the heating of the building platform 49, with an associated effect on the positioning of the carrier 43.
An application and leveling device 56, which applies a build-up material 57 into the build-up chamber 42, moves along the base surface 41 of the process chamber 21. A layer is built up on the molded body 52 by selective fusion of the build-up material 57.
The build-up material 57 preferably comprises metal or ceramic powder. Other materials which are suitable and used for laser fusion and laser sintering are also employed. The individual material powders are selected as a function of the molded body 52 to be produced.
On one side, the process chamber 21 has an inlet nozzle 61 for the supply of shielding gas or inert gas. At an opposite side, there is an extraction nozzle or extraction opening 62 for removing the supplied shielding or inert gas. During production of the molded body 52, a laminar flow of shielding or inert gas is generated, in order to avoid oxidation during fusion of the build-up material 57 and to protect the window 38 in the closure element 33. It is preferable for the hermetically locked process chamber 21 to be held at a superatmospheric pressure of, for example, 20 hPa during the build-up process, although significantly higher pressures are also conceivable. This means that it is impossible for any atmospheric oxygen to penetrate into the process chamber 21 from the outside during the build-up process. During circulation of the shielding or inert gas, it is simultaneously also possible to realize cooling. It is preferable for cooling and filtering of the shielding or inert gas to remove entrained particles of the build-up material 57 to be provided outside the process chamber 21.
The build-up chamber 42 is preferably of cylindrical design. Further geometries may also be provided. The carrier 43 or at least parts of the carrier 43 are matched to the geometry of the build-up chamber 42. In the build-up chamber 42, the carrier 43 is moved downwards with respect to the base surface 41 in order to effect a layered build-up. The height of the build-up chamber 42 is matched to the build-up height or the maximum height to be built up for a molded body 52.
A peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42 directly adjoins the base surface 41 and extends downwards, this peripheral wall 83 being suspended from the base surface 41. At least one inlet opening 112 is provided in the peripheral wall 83. This inlet opening 112 is in communication with a feed line 111 which accommodates a filter 126 outside the housing 31. Ambient air is fed to the build-up chamber 42 through the inlet opening 112 via the filter 126 and the supply line 111. Furthermore, the build-up chamber 42 has at least one outlet opening 113 in the peripheral wall 83, to which outlet opening there is connected a discharge line 114 which leads out of the housing 31 and opens out into a separation device 107. Downstream of the latter there is a filter 108 which discharges the volumetric flow that has been discharged from the build-up chamber 42 via a connecting line 118. It is advantageously provided that the inlet opening 112 and the outlet opening 113 are aligned with one another. It is also possible for the openings 112, 113 to be arranged offset with respect to one another, both in terms of the height and in terms of their feed position in the radial direction or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the build-up chamber 42.
The building platform 49 is composed of a heating plate 136 and a cooling plate 132. Heating elements 87 are illustrated by dashed lines in the heating plate 136. Furthermore, the heating plate 136 comprises a temperature sensor (not shown in more detail). The heating elements 87 and the temperature sensor are connected to supply lines 91, 92, which in turn are routed through the lifting spindle 46 to the building platform 49. A peripheral groove 81, in which one or more sealing rings 82 are fitted, is provided at the external periphery 93 of the building platform 49; the diameter of the sealing ring(s) 82 can be altered slightly and matched to the installation situation and temperature fluctuations. The sealing ring(s) 82 bear(s) against a peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42. This sealing ring 82 has a surface hardness which is lower than that of the peripheral wall 83. The peripheral wall 83 advantageously has a surface hardness which is greater than the hardness of the build-up material 57 provided for the molded body 52. This makes it possible to ensure that there is no damage to the peripheral wall 83 during prolonged use, and only the sealing ring 82, as a wearing part, has to be replaced at maintenance intervals. It is advantageous for the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42 to be surface-coated, for example chromium-plated.
The base plate 44 comprises a water cooling system which is in operation at least while the molded body 52 is being built up. Cooling liquid is fed to the cooling passages provided in the base plate 44 via a cooling line 86 which is fed to the base plate 44 through the lifting spindle 46. The cooling medium provided is preferably water. The cooling allows the base plate 44 to be set, for example, to a substantially constant temperature of 20° C. to 40° C.
To receive a molded body 52, the carrier 43 has a substrate plate 51 which is positioned fixedly or releasably on the carrier 43 by means of a retaining means and/or an orientation aid. Before production of a molded body 52 commences, the heating plate 136 is heated to an operating temperature of between 300° C. and 500° C., in order to allow the molded body 52 to be built up with low stresses and without cracks. The temperature sensor (not shown in more detail) records the heating temperature or operating temperature while the molded body 52 is being built up.
The building platform 49 has cooling passages 101, which preferably extend transversely throughout the entire building platform 49. It is possible to provide one or more cooling passages 101. The position of the cooling passages 101 is, for example, illustrated adjacent to the insulating layer 48 in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, it is possible for the cooling passages 101 to extend not just beneath heating elements 87 but also above and/or between the heating elements 87.
After completion of the molded body 52, the carrier 43 is lowered from the position illustrated in
The cooling position 121 of the carrier 43 is provided in such a manner that cooling passages 101 of the building platform 49 are aligned with the at least one inlet opening 112 and at least one outlet opening 113 in the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42. The volumetric flow flows through the cooling passages 101, thereby cooling at least the building platform 49. The cooling may be effected by a pulsed suction stream. The cooling rate in the molded body 52 can be determined by the pulse/pause ratio. It is preferable to provide for uniform cooling for a predetermined period of time, to minimize the build-up of internal stresses in the molded body 52. The cooling may also be provided by a volumetric flow which continuously increases or decreases in quantitative terms. It is also possible to alternate between an increase and a decrease in order to obtain the desired cooling rate. The cooling rate can be recorded by the temperature sensor provided in the heating plate 136. At the same time, the residual temperature of the molded body 52 can be derived via this temperature sensor. This cooling position 121 is maintained until the molded body 52 has been cooled to a temperature of, for example, less than 50° C. At the same time, the base plate 44 can be cooled further in this cooling position 121. In addition, it is also possible to provide for cooling passages or cooling hoses to be provided adjacent to the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42 or in the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42, these cooling passages or cooling hoses also contributing to cooling of the build-up chamber 42, the molded body 52 and the carrier 43.
After the molded body 52 has been cooled to the desired or preset temperature, the carrier 43 is transferred into a further position or suction position 128, which is illustrated in
The sucking-out of the build-up material 57 can be operated by a constant volumetric flow, a pulsed volumetric flow or a volumetric flow with an increasing or decreasing mass throughput. The suction is terminated after a predetermined duration of the suction or after a period of time which can be set by the operating personnel.
To remove the molded body 52, the closure element 123 is removed from the build-up chamber 42 and the carrier 43 moves into an upper position, so that the molded body 52 is positioned at least partially above the base surface 41 of the process chamber 21 in order to be removed.
a and b illustrate a plan view of the lower side (
The view according to
The supporting section 181 is provided with an orientation element 189 which is designed in the form of an elongated hole or a depression in the shape of an elongated hole. A complementary orientation element 147 which is designed, for example, as a positioning pin engages in this elongated hole. The orientation of the orientation element 189 with respect to the central point 183 is provided in such a manner that, when the substrate sheet 51 is heated, a stress-free thermal expansion is made possible. A receiving hole 187 which is designed to receive a holding device 138 is illustrated in the central point 183.
The view according to
The depth of the depressions 182 determines the thickness of the supporting section 181 which merges smoothly into the receiving section 186 in the region of the zones 184. Since the thickness of the receiving section 186 is designed to be smaller than the thickness of the supporting section 181, the substrate sheet 51 comprises a thin and a thick plate-like body. The distribution of temperature in the supporting section 181 is only slightly affected by the depressions 182, so that, furthermore, the distribution of temperature of a thick substrate sheet is present, and warping of the substrate sheet and thermal deformations are considerably reduced. The depressions 182 in the supporting section 181 reduce the thickness effective for the flexural rigidity to the thickness of the receiving section 186, so that smaller holding forces or pull-down forces are required in order to compensate for the deformations thermally induced by the carrier. As a result, the advantages according to the invention are obtained.
a illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a supporting section 181 of the substrate sheet. This embodiment has depressions 182 exclusively running in a star-shaped manner with respect to the central point 183. The number of depressions 182 and the width thereof and cross-sectional profile thereof is matched to the dimensions of the substrate sheet 51, the material of the substrate sheet 51 and also to the machining temperature during the layered build-up of a molded body.
b illustrates a further alternative refinement of a supporting section 181, in which the depressions 182 are provided exclusively concentrically with the central point 183 of the substrate sheet. This embodiment also has the advantages of a thin plate-like body combined with a thick plate-like body.
c illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a supporting section 181 of a substrate sheet 51. Depressions 182 running in a rectilinear manner and intersecting form a checkerboard pattern. The depressions 182 which are arranged rectilinearly and parallel to one another may also intersect at any desired angles with respect to one another. A regular arrangement of the depressions 182 is advantageously provided in order to obtain uniform thermal expansions and thermal distributions. These regular arrangements may also be formed in a point-symmetric manner with respect to the central point 183, in particular in the case of round substrate sheets 51.
The embodiments according to
a illustrates a diagrammatic plan view of a carrier 43 in a build-up chamber 42. The build-up chamber 42 is positioned in the housing 31 of the process chambers 21, 24. By means of the sections illustrated in
The first preferred embodiment relates to a carrier 43 which is provided for receiving a substrate sheet 51 which is designed to be smaller in diameter in relation to the embodiment below according to
An insulating layer 48 is provided between the base plate 44 and a building platform 49. This insulating layer 48 advantageously has low thermal conductivity and a high compressive strength and serves as a thermal separation between the building platform 49 and the base plate 44.
The building platform 49 comprises a cooling plate 132 and a heating plate 136 which are connected to each other by a holding device 138. A mating element 139 is inserted into a central hole of the cooling plate 132, said mating element having a peripheral collar 141 at the other end in order to position the heating plate 136 with respect to the cooling plate 132. At the lower end of the mating element 139, a releasable securing means 142 is provided, by means of which the mating element 139 or the heating plate 136 is fixed releasably with respect to the cooling plate 132. In the mating element 139, a latching or spring element 143 is inserted into a hole and is fixed in the mating element 139 by means of a fastening screw 144.
This refinement of the mating element 139 provides a rapidly exchangeable receptacle for a substrate sheet 51, which has, on its lower side, a locking bolt 146 which is inserted into the hole of the mating element 139. In a fitted position according to
The building platform 49 is oriented and correctly positioned for insulation by means of cylindrical pins 70. In addition, passages 151 are provided via which supply lines 91, 92 can be fed through the lifting spindle 46 to the heating plate 136 and can be removed again from the latter. The heating plate 136 comprises heating elements 87, for example tubular heating bodies, which are arranged in the recesses 152. As an alternative, heating wires or further heating media can also be provided and make it possible for the heating plate 136 to be able to heat up to a temperature of, for example, 300° C. to 500° C. while the molded body 52 is being built up, in order to allow the molded body 52 to be built up with low stresses and without cracks.
At the external periphery 93, adjacent to the cooling plate 132, the heating plate 136 has a seal 82 which is provided in a groove 81. For example, two seals 82 which are backed by annular springs are provided in the upper region. Furthermore, as an alternative other sealing elements 82 can be provided which guide the carrier 43 in the build-up chamber 42. A stripping element 97 which is preferably formed from a felt ring is provided adjacent to or immediately below an upper end surface 96 of the heating plate 136. This refinement makes it possible for a leakproof arrangement to be provided in spite of the different expansions of the heating plate 136 and of the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42. In addition, a penetration of the build-up material 57 between the carrier 43 and the peripheral wall 83 of the build-up chamber 42 can be prevented by the stripping element or elements 97.
Cooling passages 101 which pass completely through the cooling plate 132 are provided in the cooling plate 132. For example, two cooling passages 101 with a square or rectangular cross section are provided which run parallel to each other and are also provided crosswise with respect to each other. The configuration and arrangement of the cooling passages 101 is as desired. It is possible for a plurality of cooling passages 101 to be provided which can be arranged crosswise with respect to one another. It is likewise possible for one or more cooling passages 101 to be provided which are distributed over the periphery in uniform or nonuniform angular sections and form a type of spoke-like configuration. The number, geometry, size of the cross section and the flow path of the cooling passages 101 is matched to the cooling system used and its connections which are provided on the build-up chamber 42.
c illustrates a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line II-II in
d illustrates a further diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line III-III according to
e illustrates a schematic plan view of a carrier 43 analogously to
f illustrates a diagrammatic sectional illustration along the line I-I according to
In contrast to the first embodiment, the substrate sheet 51 is held down or fixed, preferably screwed, in the outer edge region by means of securing elements 161. This ensures that curvatures of the substrate sheet 51 are prevented. Reproducibility requirements are very exacting and lie, for example, in a region of less than 0.05 mm.
The substrate sheet 51 is positioned with respect to the heating plate 136 via a positioning pin 147 and a central mating element 139 and is positioned in said heating plate via the latching or spring element 143. Securing elements 161 are provided in the outer edge region and hold down the substrate sheet 51, with the result that the latter bears on the heating plate 136 in a flush or extensive manner. At an end facing the substrate sheet 51, the securing elements 161 have an external thread 162 and a hexagon socket receptacle 163. The securing elements 161 are held in a spring-mounted manner. After the substrate sheet 51 is placed on, the hexagon socket receptacle 163 is accessible via the hole 164, so that following this a screw connection can take place, as a result of which the substrate sheet 51 is held down with respect to the heating plate 136. This securing possibility is only by way of example. Further refinement possibilities for allowing a rapid installation and removal of the substrate sheet 51 permitting the substrate sheet 51 to bear in a planar manner with respect to the heating plate 136 during operation are likewise conceivable.
The cooling plate 132 is fixed with respect to the insulating layer 48 and with respect to the base plate 44 by a securing element 160 via a length compensation element 166. A cup spring assembly or the like can be provided as length compensation element 166 in order to allow a compensation due to the thermal change in length.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103 42 880.1 | Sep 2003 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP04/10150 | 9/10/2004 | WO | 3/15/2006 |