Patents Assigned to TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
  • Patent number: 11027488
    Abstract: A rise in temperature of a work (laminating base material) is controlled and the occurrence of thermal deformation is suppressed. There is provided a three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus having the following arrangement. That is, the three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a material ejector that ejects a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a work on which the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is shaped. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a light beam irradiator that irradiates the ejected material with a light beam. Furthermore, the three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a jig to which the work is detachably attached. The jig includes a channel supplied with a cooling medium for cooling the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Haruhiko Niitani, Yoshihito Fujita
  • Patent number: 11020906
    Abstract: A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus capable of measuring the quality of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object in real time during shaping of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object includes a material ejector that ejects the material of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table on which the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is shaped, a light beam irradiator that irradiates the ejected material with a light beam, a data acquirer that acquires monitoring data used to monitor a shaping state of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object during shaping of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object, and a shaping quality estimator that estimates shaping quality of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object based on the monitoring data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventor: Haruhiko Niitani
  • Patent number: 11007720
    Abstract: A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus capable of measuring the quality of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object in real time during shaping of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object includes a material ejector that ejects the material of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping table on which the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is shaped, a light beam irradiator that irradiates the ejected material with a light beam, a data acquirer that acquires monitoring data used to monitor a shaping state of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object during shaping of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object, and a shaping quality estimator that estimates shaping quality of the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object based on the monitoring data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventor: Haruhiko Niitani
  • Patent number: 10926469
    Abstract: This invention provides a three-dimensional laminating and fabricating system that can remove the influence of a gas flow between the irradiation positions by a plurality of irradiators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Koichi Amaya, Tetsushi Midorikawa, Masaaki Kawaji
  • Publication number: 20210039314
    Abstract: A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicants: Technology Research Association for Future Additive Manufacturing, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi OHNO, Satoshi TSUNO, Mitsuo SASAKI, Tomohiko YAMADA, Yasutomo SHIOMI, Shimpei FUJIMAKI
  • Publication number: 20210004507
    Abstract: A powder material as the raw material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is accurately evaluated. This invention provides an evaluation apparatus of a powder material as a raw material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object, including a calculator that calculates, using powder constitution data concerning particles constituting the powder material, a volume of a closed space formed by the plurality of particles in the powder material, and an evaluator that evaluates the powder material by comparing the volume of the closed space calculated by the calculator with a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Noriko YAMAZAKI, Noriko WATARI, Yuzuru OGURA, Toshiya WATANABE
  • Patent number: 10882140
    Abstract: The temperature of a molten pool is measured based on an image captured by an infrared camera or the like. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus include a material ejector that ejects a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a light beam irradiator that irradiates the ejected material with a light beam. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes an image capturer that captures a molten pool of the material formed by irradiating the ejected material with the light beam. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a temperature deriving unit that derives a temperature of the molten pool based on a luminance of an image of the molten pool captured by the image capturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Keiichi Noriyama, Hirohisa Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 10850350
    Abstract: Deterioration of a shaped object is prevented. There is provided an optical processing nozzle including an optical system in which a condensing point is adjusted to a processing point, a first set of fluid mixture discharge pipes that discharges, to the processing point, a material/purge gas fluid mixture obtained by mixing a purge gas in a powder processing material, and a second set of purge gas discharge pipes that discharges a purge gas having a purge function to the first set of fluid mixture discharge pipes, each of the fluid mixture discharge pipes of the first set being associated with each of the purge gas discharge pipes of the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Go Obara, Hiroshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 10843268
    Abstract: The present invention provides a robust metal lamination-shaped object containing aluminum and having no defect. A metal powder used for forming this metal lamination-shaped object is an aluminum-based powder having a volume-based 50% particle diameter larger than or equal to 10 ?m and smaller than 100 ?m when a particle diameter distribution is measured by a laser diffraction-scattering method, a specific surface area smaller than or equal to 0.5 m2/g, and an oxygen amount larger than or equal to 3 mg/m2 and less than or equal to 10 mg/m2 per unit surface area. A relationship between a hydrogen amount (X ml in standard state) per 100 g of the aluminum-based powder and a specific surface area (Y m2/g), and a relationship between the hydrogen amount (X ml in standard state) and an oxygen amount (Z wt %), are respectively in accordance with formulas: X/Y<151 and Z/X>0.0022.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Yoshiki Hashizume, Isao Murakami, Kenji Muramatsu, Kenta Ishigami
  • Patent number: 10843408
    Abstract: A nozzle according to one embodiment has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is provided with a first passage through which an energy ray passes, and a second passage that is provided between the inner surface and the outer surface, and through which powder and fluid pass. The second passage includes a second open end on one end thereof in a first direction. A first surface that is one of the inner surface and the outer surface includes a first edge on one end thereof in the first direction. A second surface that is the other one of those includes a second edge on one end thereof in the first direction, and is distanced from the first edge toward the first direction. The fluid ejected from the second open end flows along the second surface, and separates at the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: Technology Research Association for Future Additive Manufacturing, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Satoshi Tsuno, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tomohiko Yamada, Yasutomo Shiomi, Shimpei Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 10786870
    Abstract: This invention quickly supplies a predetermined amount of powder from a hopper to a recoater. A powder supply apparatus includes, as its feature, a hopper, a powder spreader, a powder replenisher, and a pivoting unit. The hopper of the powder supply apparatus stores a powder. The powder spreader spreads the powder on a shaping surface. The powder replenisher of the powder supply apparatus is provided between the hopper and the powder spreader, and replenishes the powder spreader with a predetermined amount of powder. The pivoting unit of the powder supply apparatus causes the powder replenisher to pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Hideaki Miyano, Yoshikazu Ooba, Yousuke Katou, Koukichi Suzuki, Yuya Daicho
  • Patent number: 10780634
    Abstract: A nozzle according to one embodiment includes a nozzle unit and a guide surface. A first passage, a second passage, and the guide surface are provided to the nozzle unit. The first passage has a first open end. The second passage has a second open end, and a section that is positioned upstream of the second open end and that extends in a second direction. The guide surface has an edge in a first direction. The guide surface is exposed on the outer side at the edge, is along a third direction at the edge, the third direction being a direction becoming more distanced from an axis than the second direction does, as the third direction is extended further toward the first direction. A flow of fluid ejected from the second open end follows the guide surface, and becomes separated from the nozzle unit at the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignees: Technology Research Association for Future Additive Manufacturing, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Satoshi Tsuno, Mitsuo Sasaki, Tomohiko Yamada, Yasutomo Shiomi, Shimpei Fujimaki
  • Publication number: 20200264086
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of evaluating powder for lamination shaping by stable criteria. In this method, it is evaluated whether powder for lamination shaping can be spread into a uniform powder layer in the lamination shaping, wherein the powder is evaluated using, as a flowability of the powder, an adhesive force of the powder calculated from a failure envelope obtained by a shear test. The shear test is conducted by a powder rheometer, and the adhesive force is obtained from the relationship between a normal stress and a shearing stress at the powder rheometer. If the adhesive force is 0.450 kPa or less, the powder is evaluated to be spread into a uniform powder layer in the lamination shaping. Furthermore, if at least one of that the 50% particle sin of the powder obtained by a laser diffraction method is 3 to 250 ?m and that the apparent density of the powder is 3.5 g/cm3 or more is satisfied, the powder is evaluated to be spread into a uniform powder layer in the lamination shaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicants: FUKUDA METAL FOIL & POWDER CO., LTD., TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Seiichi MATSUMOTO, Yuji SUGITANI
  • Publication number: 20200254517
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of evaluating a squeegeeing property of powder for lamination shaping by stable criteria. In this method, the squeegeeing property is evaluated using at least a satellite adhesion ratio of the powder and an apparent density of the powder. The satellite adhesion ratio is the ratio of the number of particles on which satellites are adhered to the number of all particles. If the satellite adhesion ratio is equal to or less than 50%, and the apparent density is equal to or more than 3.5 g/cm3, the squeegeeing property is evaluated as that the powder can be spread into a uniform powder layer in the lamination shaping. Furthermore, if the 50% particle size of a powder obtained by a laser diffraction method is 3 to 250 ?m, the squeegeeing property is evaluated as that the powder can be spread into a uniform powder layer in the lamination shaping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicants: FUKUDA METAL FOIL & POWDER CO., LTD., TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Seiichi MATSUMOTO, Yuji SUGITANI, Motonori NISHIDA
  • Patent number: 10654991
    Abstract: The present invention is a granular material that can be well recoated regardless of the type of the granular material, and enables a refractory aggregate in an unprinted portion to be used without any regeneration process, in the manufacture of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped mold. This granular material is a granular material for use in three-dimensional laminated mold shaping, and obtained by adding a material that causes a hydration reaction having a moisture absorbing function and generates a catalytic effect to a coating material mixed with or coated with an acid as a catalyst which activates and hardens an organic binder for binding the granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagai, Kosuke Takeshita, Toshimitsu Okane
  • Publication number: 20200147682
    Abstract: This invention provides a copper powder to which tin (Sn) is added such that a high-density laminated and shaped product can be obtained by a laminating and shaping method using a fiber laser as a heat source by appropriately reducing the electrical conductivity of copper, so a laminated and shaped product having a high density and a high electrical conductivity can be obtained. That is, this invention provides a copper powder for lamination shaping in which a tin element is added to pure copper. Desirably, the copper powder contains 0.5 wt % or more of the tin element. More desirably, the copper powder contains 5.0 wt % or more of the tin element. When the product has an electrical conductivity sufficient as a copper product, the copper powder desirably contains 6.0 wt % or less of the tin element. Furthermore, no element other than the tin element is desirably added to the copper powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicants: FUKUDA METAL FOIL & POWDER CO., LTD., TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Yuji SUGITANI, Yoshito NiSHIZAWA, Takeshi MARUYAMA, Hiroaki OKUBO
  • Patent number: 10610957
    Abstract: This invention effectively prevents charge-up of an unsintered region. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a linear funnel for recoating the material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping surface on which the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is to be shaped. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus also includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus further includes a charge shield for shielding the material recoated on the shaping surface when irradiating the material with the electron beam. In addition, the apparatus includes a vertical driving mechanism for vertically moving the charge shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitamura, Nari Tsutagawa
  • Patent number: 10583517
    Abstract: This invention effectively suppresses the generation of scattered electrons such as secondary electrons and backscattered electrons. A three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a linear funnel that recoats a material of a three-dimensional laminated and shaped object onto a shaping surface on which the three-dimensional laminated and shaped object is to be shaped. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus also includes an electron gun that generates an electron beam. The three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus further includes an anti-deposition cover made of a metal and formed between the shaping surface and the electron gun. In addition, the three-dimensional laminating and shaping apparatus includes a DC power supply that applies a positive voltage to the anti-deposition cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Shinichi Kitamura, Hironobu Manabe
  • Patent number: 10566171
    Abstract: This invention can maintain the temperature of the shaping plane in a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus. A three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaping apparatus includes a material spreader that spreads the material or materials of a three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object onto the shaping plane on which the three-dimensional layer-by-layer shaped object is to be shaped; an electron gun that generates an electron beam; at least one deflector that deflects the electron beam so that it scans the shaping plane one- or two-dimensionally; at least one lens that is positioned between the electron gun and the deflector, and focuses the electron beam; a focus controller that controls the focus of the electron beam based on which region is to be scanned by the electron beam; and a controller that controls the deflecting direction of the deflector and the scanning rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Zhixiong Yuan, Kazuya Goto, Toshiyuki Morimura, Takahiro Shimbo
  • Patent number: 10537966
    Abstract: A machining apparatus that need not exchange a processing nozzle when changing a shaping condition, and increases the use efficiency of a material. The processing nozzle that performs processing by ejecting a processing material towards a molten pool formed on a process surface by an energy line includes a cylindrical inner housing that incorporates a path through which the energy line passes, and ejects the energy line from one end. The processing nozzle also includes a cylindrical outer housing that incorporates the inner housing, and has an inner surface tapered in the ejection direction of the energy line ejected from the inner housing. The processing nozzle also includes a slide mechanism that changes, along the energy line, the relative position of the outer housing with respect to the inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Yuji Sasaki, Hiroshi Ohno, Mitsuo Sasaki, Takashi Obara, Kazuyuki Masukawa