18236114. BUILD MATERIAL ESCAPEMENT ASSEMBLY AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME simplified abstract (General Electric Company)

BUILD MATERIAL ESCAPEMENT ASSEMBLY AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME

Organization Name

General Electric Company

Inventor(s)

John Sterle of Clifton Park NY (US)

Vadim Bromberg of Niskayuna NY (US)

BUILD MATERIAL ESCAPEMENT ASSEMBLY AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18236114 titled 'BUILD MATERIAL ESCAPEMENT ASSEMBLY AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME

Simplified Explanation

The build material escapement assembly for an additive manufacturing system includes various components such as a retaining plate, base, support frame, diaphragm, retractable plate, top plate, and connectors.

• The retaining plate couples the build material escapement assembly to the additive manufacturing system.
• The base has multiple ports and is located beneath the retaining plate.
• A support frame is positioned within the base.
• A diaphragm surrounds the base.
• A retractable plate is situated between the support frame and the diaphragm.
• The top plate is connected to the retractable plate through the diaphragm.
• Connectors are attached to the ports of the base.
• The base, support frame, diaphragm, retractable plate, and top plate create a cavity.
• The top plate can move between a retracted position by applying negative pressure and an extended position by applying positive pressure to the cavity via the connectors.

Potential Applications

This technology can be used in additive manufacturing systems to control the flow of build material, ensuring precise and accurate printing of objects.

Problems Solved

This innovation solves the issue of inconsistent material flow in additive manufacturing systems, leading to improved print quality and reliability.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include enhanced printing accuracy, reduced material waste, and increased efficiency in additive manufacturing processes.

Potential Commercial Applications

This technology can be applied in industries such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and consumer goods for the production of custom parts, prototypes, and end-use products.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be traditional material escapement systems used in additive manufacturing, which may not offer the same level of control and precision as the described build material escapement assembly.

How does this technology compare to existing material escapement systems in terms of performance and reliability?

This article does not provide a direct comparison with existing material escapement systems, leaving the reader to wonder about the specific advantages and limitations of this innovation.

What are the potential maintenance requirements for this build material escapement assembly?

The article does not address the maintenance aspects of this technology, leaving a gap in understanding regarding the upkeep and longevity of the assembly.

Original Abstract Submitted

A build material escapement assembly for an additive manufacturing system includes a retaining plate for coupling the build material escapement assembly to the additive manufacturing system. A base having a plurality of ports is disposed beneath the retaining plate, and a support frame is disposed within the base. A diaphragm is disposed around the base, and a retractable plate is disposed between the support frame and the diaphragm. A top plate is further coupled to the retractable plate through the diaphragm and a plurality of connectors are coupled to the plurality of ports of the base. The base, support frame, diaphragm, retractable plate, and top plate define a cavity, and the top plate is movable between a retracted position by applying a negative pressure and an extended position by applying positive pressure to the cavity via the plurality of connectors.