Abstract: A coolant processing apparatus removes sludge from a coolant discharged from a machine tool. The coolant processing apparatus includes a first reservoir and a second reservoir provided in a tank for retaining the coolant. The first reservoir includes a flow path in which the discharged coolant flows, and a portion downstream of the flow path to retain the coolant such that the sludge remains in the first reservoir. The flow path has at least one bend to bend a flow of the coolant at least once in a horizontal direction. The second reservoir retains the coolant flowing out from the first reservoir. A boundary wall is provided between the first and second reservoirs, at a location downstream of the at least one bend of the flow path, and has such a height that allows a supernatant of the coolant in the first reservoir to flow into the second reservoir.

Abstract: A coolant processing apparatus removes sludge from a coolant discharged from a machine tool. The coolant processing apparatus includes a first reservoir and a second reservoir provided in a tank for retaining the coolant. The first reservoir includes a flow path in which the discharged coolant flows, and a portion downstream of the flow path to retain the coolant such that the sludge remains in the first reservoir. The flow path has at least one bend to bend a flow of the coolant at least once in a horizontal direction. The second reservoir retains the coolant flowing out from the first reservoir. A boundary wall is provided between the first and second reservoirs, at a location downstream of the at least one bend of the flow path, and has such a height that allows a supernatant of the coolant in the first reservoir to flow into the second reservoir.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product that employs a shaping method based on dispersion of powder by a squeegee and irradiation onto a powder layer with a laser beam or electron beam, includes the following steps: 1. Setting an upper limit value and lower limit value for the amount of circulation passing through an anemometer, and an adjusting value within this range; 2. Measuring the amount of circulation and effecting control as follows: (1) When the measured value is between the upper limit value and lower limit value, the rotational speed of the blower fan is maintained, and (2) When the measured value has fallen below the lower limit value due to clogging of a filter, the rotational speed of the fan is increased and the rotational speed is selected at the stage where the measured value has reached the adjusting value, and the rotational speed is maintained.

Abstract: The stop time of a whole apparatus caused by planning of shaping, maintenance, replacement of a material, or the like is shortened. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a plurality of shaping chambers, at least one material supplier that supplies a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table in each of the shaping chambers, at least one light beam irradiator that irradiates the material with a light beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier and the light beam irradiator. If the material supplier supplies the material onto one of the shaping tables, the controller controls the light beam irradiator to perform irradiation of the light beam onto the other one of the shaping tables.

Abstract: The three-dimensional shaping method and apparatus employs a plurality of galvano scanners 3 that carry out scanning of laser beams 7 along two-dimensional directions on orthogonal coordinates or cylindrical coordinates by reflection from first mirrors 31 that oscillate on rotation axes 30 that are perpendicular to transmission directions of the laser beams 7 that have been transmitted through dynamic focus lenses 2, and second mirrors 32 that oscillate on rotation axes 30 that are perpendicular to the rotation axes 30 of the first mirrors 31 and are in horizontal directions, with oscillation ranges freely adjustable based on control of an oscillation, and having freely selectable regions on a sintered surface 6 at the focal points of the laser beams 7 irradiated in slanted directions with respect to a surface of a table 4, or locations in their vicinity.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped product that employs a shaping method based on dispersion of powder by a squeegee and irradiation onto a powder layer with a laser beam or electron beam, includes the following steps: 1. Setting an upper limit value and lower limit value for the amount of circulation passing through an anemometer, and an adjusting value within this range; 2. Measuring the amount of circulation and effecting control as follows: (1) When the measured value is between the upper limit value and lower limit value, the rotational speed of the blower fan is maintained, and (2) When the measured value has fallen below the lower limit value due to clogging of a filter, the rotational speed of the fan is increased and the rotational speed is selected at the stage where the measured value has reached the adjusting value, and the rotational speed is maintained.

Abstract: In metal powder processing equipment where metal powder is sequentially laminated on a table inside a chamber and laser beam melting or electron beam melting, and shaping by a cutting tool subsequent to the melting are performed, unmolded powder remaining at the time of the melting and cut powder generated by the cutting can be scattered by generating air flow with respect to the cutting tool from either side of a main shaft or a tool holder. As a result, life of the cutting tool is prolonged and quality of a cut surface can be improved.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a shaping table 31, a squeegee 32, a sintering device, a cutting device, transport pathways 4 through which metal powder and fumes that have been discharged to the outer side of a shaping tank 1 after cutting with the cutting device, and metal powder that has been discharged to the outer side of a chamber 2 surrounding the shaping tank 1 without forming part of the laminated layer, are transported to a sifter 5 located at the top of a powder tank 6, and supply devices for inert gas that does not react with the metal powder at an inlet 40 of each transport pathway 4, so as to suppress oxidation of metal powder in the transport pathway for collected metal powder and fumes, and also dust explosion due to sudden oxidation of the same.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shaping apparatus includes a shaping table 31, a squeegee 32, a sintering device, a cutting device, transport pathways 4 through which metal powder and fumes that have been discharged to the outer side of a shaping tank 1 after cutting with the cutting device, and metal powder that has been discharged to the outer side of a chamber 2 surrounding the shaping tank 1 without forming part of the laminated layer, are transported to a sifter 5 located at the top of a powder tank 6, and supply devices for inert gas that does not react with the metal powder at an inlet 40 of each transport pathway 4, so as to suppress oxidation of metal powder in the transport pathway for collected metal powder and fumes, and also dust explosion due to sudden oxidation of the same.

Abstract: The stop time of a whole apparatus caused by planning of shaping, maintenance, replacement of a material, or the like is shortened. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a plurality of shaping chambers, at least one material supplier that supplies a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table in each of the shaping chambers, at least one light beam irradiator that irradiates the material with a light beam, and a controller that controls the material supplier and the light beam irradiator. If the material supplier supplies the material onto one of the shaping tables, the controller controls the light beam irradiator to perform irradiation of the light beam onto the other one of the shaping tables.

Abstract: This invention provides a laminating and fabricating control apparatus for correcting a laser irradiation position in correspondence with a shift of the laser irradiation position during laminating and fabricating by an optical fabricating unit. The laminating and fabricating control apparatus controls a laminating and fabricating unit that includes a squeezing blade configured to spread a laminating material on an upper layer of a laminated and fabricated object, and an irradiator configured to irradiate the laminating material, to fabricate the laminated and fabricated object. The laminating and fabricating control apparatus includes a position shift acquirer that acquires a shift of an irradiation position of irradiation light on a surface of the squeezing blade when receiving the irradiation light from the irradiator, and an irradiation position corrector that corrects the irradiation position by the irradiator based on the shift of the irradiation position.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional shaping device, a region of an elevatable/lowerable table 2 for forming a powder layer and a region of a powder supply device are divided by a shield plate, an inert gas injection port is provided in the former region, the shield plate can be freely opened or closed so that a powder spraying squeegee traveling on the table is passed through, or a pipe which supplies powder from the powder supply device to the powder spraying squeegee which has traveled to the side of the shield plate penetrates through the shield plate, or a part of the shield plate is the powder supply port for the powder spraying squeegee which has traveled to the side of the shield plate and the pipe protrudes at a lower part and a sintering device applies a laser beam via a transparent region in a ceiling of a chamber.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional shaping device, a region of an elevatable/lowerable table 2 for forming a powder layer and a region of a powder supply device are divided by a shield plate, an inert gas injection port is provided in the former region, the shield plate can be freely opened or closed so that a powder spraying squeegee traveling on the table is passed through, or a pipe which supplies powder from the powder supply device to the powder spraying squeegee which has traveled to the side of the shield plate penetrates through the shield plate, or a part of the shield plate is the powder supply port for the powder spraying squeegee which has traveled to the side of the shield plate and the pipe protrudes at a lower part and a sintering device applies a laser beam via a transparent region in a ceiling of a chamber.

Abstract: In metal powder processing equipment where metal powder is sequentially laminated on a table of a chamber and laser beam melting or electron beam melting is performed or cutting and shaping are performed by a rotating tool subsequent to melting, a first temperature adjusting unit is placed at a lower bottom portion of the table and a second temperature adjusting unit is disposed in contact with and around the outer wall of the chamber and both units are simultaneously heated or cooled; a room partially enclosing a metal powder reserve tank and a metal powder supply pipe is provided with a third temperature adjusting unit, the temperature of which is set to average temperature of the second temperature adjusting unit before the second one actuates, so that deterioration of dimensional precision in processing and deterioration of metal powder quality can be prevented by keeping heating temperature constant.

Abstract: In metal powder processing equipment where metal powder is sequentially laminated on a table of a chamber and laser beam melting or electron beam melting is performed or cutting and shaping are performed by a rotating tool subsequent to melting, a first temperature adjusting unit is placed at a lower bottom portion of the table and a second temperature adjusting unit is disposed in contact with and around the outer wall of the chamber and both units are simultaneously heated or cooled; a room partially enclosing a metal powder reserve tank and a metal powder supply pipe is provided with a third temperature adjusting unit, the temperature of which is set to average temperature of the second temperature adjusting unit before the second one actuates, so that deterioration of dimensional precision in processing and deterioration of metal powder quality can be prevented by keeping heating temperature constant.

Abstract: In metal powder processing equipment where metal powder is sequentially laminated on a table inside a chamber and laser beam melting or electron beam melting, and shaping by a cutting tool subsequent to the melting are performed, unmolded powder remaining at the time of the melting and cut powder generated by the cutting can be scattered by generating air flow with respect to the cutting tool from either side of a main shaft or a tool holder. As a result, life of the cutting tool is prolonged and quality of a cut surface can be improved.