Patent EP-2359964-B1 (EP)
Inventor: HOEVEL SIMONE
IPC: B22F7/00
Filed: 2011-01-12
Granted: 2013-11-20
Abstract: The method comprises forming a component (16) on a platform (10) or a base by successive melting of metal powder-layers of a first metal powder under the formation of a sequence of layers that lie one upon the other, and providing a separating layer (11) between the component and the platform or base for easily separating the finished component from the platform or the base, where the separating layer enables the separation of the finished component from the platform or the base without damaging the finished component. The separating layer consists of a meltable material. The method comprises forming a component (16) on a platform (10) or a base by successive melting of metal powder-layers of a first metal powder under the formation of a sequence of layers that lie one upon the other, and providing a separating layer (11) between the component and the platform or base for easily separating the finished component from the platform or the base, where the separating layer enables the separation of the finished component from the platform or the base without damaging the finished component. The separating layer consists of a meltable material, whose melting point is lesser than the melting point of the first metal powder used for the formation of the component. The separating layer is made of a second metal powder, which is melted using laser beam (15) in a layer-wise manner, is formed as a homogeneous layer and as a multi-layered layer arrangement, and is made of a solder alloy on the basis of the metal. The meltable material of the separating layer has a melting temperature of above 300[deg] C. The melting point of the first metal powder is 700-1700[deg] C. A powder made of nickel-based alloy, cobalt-based alloy, titanium-based alloy and iron-based alloy is used as first metal powder. The associated separating layer is melted for separating the finished component from the platform or the base without further mechanical processing. The separating layer is melted by local heating in the area of the separating layer. The local heating is caused by inductive heating and takes place by irradiation and in a heated bath. The separating layer is used with a thickness of 60-100 Pm. The component is produced with oversize towards the adjacent separating layer depending on the application, where the oversize comprises an inter-diffusion zone, whose thickness directs itself according to the type of the meltable material of the adjacent separating layer. The oversize is removed from the platform or base after completion of the component and separation of the component. The thickness of the inter-diffusion zone is less than 200 Pm. The separating layer is made of a metal film, which is fixed at its place of action using the laser beam and has a supplement for lowering the melting point, where the supplement is selected such that it does not diffuse into the component during heating the separating layer. During producing the separating layer, an edge-side limiting molding tool is used for separating the different metal powder. Several components are sequentially produced in a stack over each other, where the previously completed component serves as base for the next component. The separating layer is arranged between the two adjacent components. The components are similarly among each other. The adjacent components are arranged to each other in relation to the separating layer in a mirror-image manner, so that they collide to each other with equal areas.