Patents by Inventor Brawley Valkenborgs
Brawley Valkenborgs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11691222Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a build chamber, an overflow chamber adjacent to the build chamber, a motorized build plate, a powder coater including a vibration generator, a lateral movement mechanism coupled to the powder coater, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a process to remove accumulated powder from surfaces of the powder coater according to the steps: (1) operate the lateral movement mechanism to position the powder coater over a location outside of the build chamber; (2) operate the vibration generator to shake the accumulated powder into the location outside of the build chamber. The location outside of the build chamber can be defined by the overflow chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: LAYERWISE NVInventors: Nachiketa Ray, Peter Geboes, Brawley Valkenborgs, Jan Plas, Rudy Raeymaekers
-
Publication number: 20230201963Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a build chamber, an overflow chamber adjacent to the build chamber, a motorized build plate, a powder coater including a vibration generator, a lateral movement mechanism coupled to the powder coater, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a process to remove accumulated powder from surfaces of the powder coater according to the steps: (1) operate the lateral movement mechanism to position the powder coater over a location outside of the build chamber; (2) operate the vibration generator to shake the accumulated powder into the location outside of the build chamber. The location outside of the build chamber can be defined by the overflow chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Nachiketa Ray, Peter Geboes, Brawley Valkenborgs, Jan Plas, Rudy Raeymaekers
-
Patent number: 11426930Abstract: A manufacturing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a housing, a sensor within the housing, a coater, a removable powder module (RPM) with a platen, a laser system, and a controller. A method of operating the manufacturing system includes installing the RPM into the housing, forming pillars onto the platen, positioning the top surfaces of the pillars a distance D below a build plane, installing a calibration plate onto the top surfaces of the pillars, and then calibrating the laser system using the sensor. The sensor can include one or more of an optical sensor and an acoustic sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: LayerWise NVInventors: Sam Coeck, Jan Plas, Nachiketa Ray, Brawley Valkenborgs
-
Patent number: 11376693Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product starting from a powder, in particular a metal powder. More specifically, the invention relates to a system in which selective laser melting is applied to manufacture a product. Here, successive powder layers are covered by an energy beam, such as a laser beam, in order to melt the powder in this layer in whole or in part and subsequently to solidify or sinter it and to create successive layers of the product in this way.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jozef Verheyen, Brawley Valkenborgs, Luc Cuyt, Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Filips Schillebeeckx
-
Patent number: 11325309Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a chassis, a door, and a plurality of latches. The chassis defines an internal process chamber and a vertical opening for accessing the internal process chamber. A peripheral seal surrounds the vertical opening. The plurality of latches are arranged around the peripheral seal. The latches individually include a hook. The vertical door is mounted to the chassis by a linkage. The door includes a plurality of laterally extending pins individually corresponding to the latches. The pins have locations along the door to be individually engaged by the latches when the door is positioned in the closed position. The latches are individually configured to rotate the hooks around a second lateral axis (Y) when the door is positioned in the closed position with the door closing over the opening to secure the door with respect to a first lateral axis (X).Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Layerwise NVInventors: Luc Cuyt, Brawley Valkenborgs, Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Jan Van Rompay
-
Patent number: 11135679Abstract: An apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product includes a build chamber having a window, a build platform within the build chamber, a calibration device that is physically separated from the build chamber, an optical system including a beam source and a scanning apparatus, and a mobile base. The mobile base is configured to position the scanning apparatus at two spaced part positions including a (1) production position and a (2) calibration position. At the production position the scanning apparatus is configured to receive an energy beam from the beam source and to reflect and scan the energy beam through the window and to a build surface over the build platform to create a layer of the three-dimensional product. At the calibration position the scanning apparatus is configured to reflect the energy beam to the calibration device but not through the window.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Sam Coeck, Brawley Valkenborgs, Rudy Raeymaekers
-
Patent number: 11090729Abstract: A device is provided for cleaning and/or replacement of a laser window of a process chamber, enclosed by an outer wall, containing a modified atmosphere, in particular a process chamber for layered printing of a 3D object by a technique such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), where this device features an opening in the outer wall that is fitted with the laser window and where this laser window allows a laser beam from a laser source located outside of the process chamber into the process chamber, where an external sealing ring is provided that extends between the outer wall and this laser window. A method is also provided for cleaning and/or replacement of the laser window in the opening of the outer wall of the enclosed process chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Brawley Valkenborgs
-
Publication number: 20210086440Abstract: A manufacturing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a housing, a sensor within the housing, a coater, a removable powder module (RPM) with a platen, a laser system, and a controller. A method of operating the manufacturing system includes installing the RPM into the housing, forming pillars onto the platen, positioning the top surfaces of the pillars a distance D below a build plane, installing a calibration plate onto the top surfaces of the pillars, and then calibrating the laser system using the sensor. The sensor can include one or more of an optical sensor and an acoustic sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Sam COECK, Jan PLAS, Nachiketa RAY, Brawley VALKENBORGS
-
Publication number: 20210053290Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a chassis, a door, and a plurality of latches. The chassis defines an internal process chamber and a vertical opening for accessing the internal process chamber. A peripheral seal surrounds the vertical opening. The plurality of latches are arranged around the peripheral seal. The latches individually include a hook. The vertical door is mounted to the chassis by a linkage. The door includes a plurality of laterally extending pins individually corresponding to the latches. The pins have locations along the door to be individually engaged by the latches when the door is positioned in the closed position. The latches are individually configured to rotate the hooks around a second lateral axis (Y) when the door is positioned in the closed position with the door closing over the opening to secure the door with respect to a first lateral axis (X).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: Luc CUYT, Brawley VALKENBORGS, Jonas VAN VAERENBERGH, Jan VAN ROMPAY
-
Publication number: 20200368849Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes a build chamber, an overflow chamber adjacent to the build chamber, a motorized build plate, a powder coater including a vibration generator, a lateral movement mechanism coupled to the powder coater, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a process to remove accumulated powder from surfaces of the powder coater according to the steps: (1) operate the lateral movement mechanism to position the powder coater over a location outside of the build chamber; (2) operate the vibration generator to shake the accumulated powder into the location outside of the build chamber. The location outside of the build chamber can be defined by the overflow chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Nachiketa Ray, Peter Geboes, Brawley Valkenborgs, Jan Plas, Rudy Raeymaekers
-
Publication number: 20190091765Abstract: A three dimensional printing system includes a build module, a powder storage module, a powder transport conduit, a vertical powder transport module, and a powder layering apparatus. The build module has a lateral side. The powder storage module is located at least partially below the build module. The powder storage module has a lateral side and defines an internal volume for holding powder. The powder transport conduit transports the powder to a lateral location that is laterally offset from the lateral side of the powder storage module. The vertical powder transport module is laterally offset from the lateral sides of the build module and the powder storage module and includes a lower end for receiving powder from the lateral location and an upper end having a laterally extending powder outlet. The powder layering apparatus receives the powder from the laterally extending powder outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Brawley Valkenborgs, Luc Cuyt, Filips Schillebeeckx, Jos Verheyen
-
Publication number: 20180345411Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product starting from a powder, in particular a metal powder. More specifically, the invention relates to a system in which selective laser melting is applied to manufacture a product. Here, successive powder layers are covered by an energy beam, such as a laser beam, in order to melt the powder in this layer in whole or in part and subsequently to solidify or sinter it and to create successive layers of the product in this way.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Jos Verheyen, Brawley Valkenborgs, Luc Cuyt, Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Filips Schillebeeckx
-
Publication number: 20180345412Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for layered manufacture of a three-dimensional product, in particular for application of an additive manufacturing technique such as selective laser melting. This apparatus has a build chamber in which said product is constructed and an optical system that extends outside of the build chamber. The optical system has at least a beam source to generate an energy beam and contains corresponding scanning means to move this beam. Here, a control unit is provided that controls the scanning means to move the beam so that it strikes a selected position. The wall of the build chamber features a closed window that is transparent for the beam so that it passes through the window and enters the build chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Sam Coeck, Brawley Valkenborgs, Rudy Raeymaekers
-
Publication number: 20180345375Abstract: A device is provided for cleaning and/or replacement of a laser window of a process chamber, enclosed by an outer wall, containing a modified atmosphere, in particular a process chamber for layered printing of a 3D object by a technique such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), where this device features an opening in the outer wall that is fitted with the laser window and where this laser window allows a laser beam from a laser source located outside of the process chamber into the process chamber, where an external sealing ring is provided that extends between the outer wall and this laser window. A method is also provided for cleaning and/or replacement of the laser window in the opening of the outer wall of the enclosed process chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Jonas Van Vaerenbergh, Brawley Valkenborgs