Patent ID: 11224940

Abstract:
A powder bed containment system for use with a rotating direct metal laser melting (DMLM) system includes an annular build plate, which includes an inner wall, an outer wall concentric with the inner wall and spaced radially apart from the inner wall, and a substantially planar build surface extending between the inner wall and the outer wall, where the substantially planar build surface is arranged to receive a weldable powder for manufacture of an object. The powder bed containment system also includes an outer containment wall radially outward of the outer wall of the annular build plate, an inner containment wall radially inward of the inner wall of the annular build plate, and at least one actuator mechanically coupled to at least one of i) the outer containment wall and ii) the inner containment wall, where the at least one actuator is configured to raise at least one of i) the outer containment wall and ii) the inner containment wall axially relative to the substantially planar build surface during manufacture of the object.