Patent ID: 11858067
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Materials, metallurgy (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  F  Y | IPC B  F

Claim 8:
9. An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
a vision system comprising a first work station having a first build plate-receiving surface and a first lock-pin extending from the first build plate-receiving surface, the first lock-pin configured to lockingly engage a build plate, the first lock-pin having a first hollow pin body, a first piston disposed within the first hollow pin body and a first plurality of radially extensible detents, and the build plate comprising a socket having an inside surface defining an engagement surface for the first plurality of radially extensible detents, the first lock-pin comprising a first flushing channel defining a first pathway for fluid to flush debris from the first lock-pin, and wherein the first flushing channel traverses helically along the first piston and helically along an inner surface of the first hollow pin body; and
an additive manufacturing machine comprising a second work station having a second build plate-receiving surface and a second lock-pin extending from the second build plate-receiving surface, the second lock-pin configured to lockingly engage the build plate, the second lock-pin having a second hollow pin body, a second piston disposed within the second hollow pin body and a second plurality of radially extensible detents, and the inside surface of the socket of the build plate defining an engagement surface for the second plurality of radially extensible detents, the second lock-pin comprising a second flushing channel defining a second pathway for fluid to flush debris from the second lock-pin, and wherein the second flushing channel traverses helically along the second piston and helically along an inner surface of the second hollow pin body.