Patent Description:
Additive manufacturing systems may be utilized to "build" an object from build material, such as organic or inorganic powders, in a layer-wise manner. Conventional additive manufacturing systems include various "recoat" apparatuses within a build housing that are configured to sequentially distribute layers of build material, such that an energy source can fuse the build material to "build" an object.

<CIT> discloses a laser 3D printing flue dust dry filter device and method and filtration core replacing options <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> are other relevant prior art documents.

During the additive manufacturing process, condensate byproducts may be formed as the build material is fused together. As one example, in some instances, metal build material may be fused by direct metal laser melting (DMLM), and fine metal condensates may be formed as the metal build material is fused together. To reduce contamination of these fine metal condensates within the build material and/or the object being formed, these fine metal condensates may be removed from the build housing via a filtration system. In these configurations, the fine metal condensates may be collected by passing gases from within the build housing through a filter that collects airborne fine metal condensates.

Over time, the filters may need to be replaced with new filters. However, the fine metal condensates collected on the filters may be highly reactive, and may be prone to combustion upon exposure to oxygen in ambient air. To passivate the fine metal condensates, the filters and the fine metal condensates on the filters may be wetted (e.g., submerged or at least partially submerged) within a passivation fluid, such as water, before being removed from a filter housing. However, in these configurations, it is difficult and time consuming to ensure that the filters are sufficiently wetted before being removed from the filter housing. Accordingly, a need exists for improved methods for wetting filters used in additive manufacturing processes.

The invention is defined by the subject matter of the appending claims which are to be construed under consideration of the description and the drawings.

In one embodiment, a method for wetting volatile material positioned on a filter from an additive manufacturing process includes passing a passivation fluid to an interior space of a filtration system including an outer housing, a filtration medium structurally configured to filter gas passed from a dirty side of the filtration medium to a clean side of the filtration medium, where the interior space is defined at least in part by the outer housing and the dirty side of the filtration medium, detecting an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space with a volume detection device, determining whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than a configurable threshold, in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than the configurable threshold, continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space, and in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is not less than the configurable threshold, stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space.

In another embodiment, a method for forming a three-dimensional product includes dispensing a powdered build material, forming a three-dimensional product with the powdered build material, passing a condensate formed from the powdered build material to a filtration system, the filtration system including a filtration medium including a dirty side positioned opposite a clean side, and a where the filtration system defines an interior space positioned between an outer housing and the dirty side of the filtration medium, passing a passivation fluid to the interior space, detecting an amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space with a volume detection device, determining, with a controller communicatively coupled to the volume detection device, whether the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than a configurable threshold, in response to determining that the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than the configurable threshold, continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space, and in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space is not less than the configurable threshold, stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space.

In yet another embodiment, a system for wetting volatile material from an additive manufacturing process positioned on a filter includes a filtration system including an outer housing, a filtration medium structurally configured to filter gas passed from a dirty side of the filtration medium to a clean side of the filtration medium, and an interior space defined at least in part by the outer housing and the dirty side of the filtration medium, a filling device including a filling inlet selectively coupled to a passivation source, a filling outlet selectively coupled to the outer housing of the filtration system, a valve positioned between the filling inlet and the filling outlet, where the valve is positionable between an open position, in which passivation fluid can flow from the filling inlet to the filling outlet, and a closed position, in which flow of the passivation fluid from the filling inlet to the filling outlet is restricted, a volume detection device that detects at least one of a volume and a flow rate of the passivation fluid passing through the filling device, a controller communicatively coupled to the valve and the volume detection device, the controller including a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to receive a signal from the volume detection device indicative of an amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space, determine whether the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than a configurable threshold, in response to determining that the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space is less than the configurable threshold, direct the valve to remain in the open position to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space, and in response to determining that the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the interior space is not less than the configurable threshold, direct the valve to move to the closed position to stop the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space.

Additional features and advantages of the additive manufacturing apparatuses described herein, and the components thereof, will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of additive manufacturing apparatuses and filling devices, and components thereof, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Filling devices according to the present application generally pass passivation fluid to wet volatile material positioned on a filtration medium used in an additive manufacturing process. The filling devices may pass the passivation fluid to a dirty side of the filtration medium, such that the passivation fluid does not necessarily have to pass through the filtration medium to wet the volatile material on the dirty side of the filtration medium. In some embodiments, the filling devices may automatically stop passing the passivation fluid to the filtration medium upon determining that an amount of passivation fluid passed to the filtration medium is above a configurable threshold. In this way, the volatile material can be wetted without requiring a user to actively monitor the amount of passivation fluid passed to the filtration medium. Further, as compared to manual processes, automatically controlling the amount of the passivation fluid passed to the filtration medium may reduce variation in the amount of passivation fluid passed to the filtration medium, thereby assisting in ensuring that the volatile material on the filtration medium is fully wetted before removal from a filtration system. These and other embodiments of filling devices and methods for using the same are described in further detail herein with specific reference to the appended drawings.

Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

Directional terms as used herein - for example up, down, right, left, front, back, top, bottom - are made only with reference to the figures as drawn and are not intended to imply absolute orientation unless otherwise expressly stated.

The phrase "communicatively coupled" is used herein to describe the interconnectivity of various components and means that the components are connected either through wires, optical fibers, or wirelessly such that electrical, optical, and/or electromagnetic signals may be exchanged between the components.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order, nor that with any apparatus specific orientations be required. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps, or that any apparatus claim does not actually recite an order or orientation to individual components, or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or description that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, or that a specific order or orientation to components of an apparatus is not recited, it is in no way intended that an order or orientation be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps, operational flow, order of components, or orientation of components; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation, and; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification.

As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a" component includes aspects having two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring now to <FIG>, an example additive manufacturing system <NUM> is schematically depicted. The additive manufacturing system <NUM> includes a supply platform <NUM>, a build platform <NUM>, and a recoat assembly <NUM>. The supply platform <NUM> is coupled to a supply platform actuator <NUM>. The supply platform actuator <NUM> is movable in the vertical direction (i.e., the +/- Z direction of the coordinate axes depicted in the figure) such that the supply platform <NUM> may be raised or lowered within a supply receptacle <NUM>. The build platform <NUM> is located adjacent to the supply platform <NUM> and, like the supply platform <NUM>, is coupled to a build platform actuator <NUM>. The build platform actuator <NUM> is movable in the vertical direction such that the build platform <NUM> may be raised or lowered (i.e., the +/- Z direction of the coordinate axes depicted in the figure) within a build receptacle <NUM>.

In operation, build material <NUM>, such as organic or inorganic powder, is positioned on the supply platform <NUM>. The supply platform <NUM> is actuated to present a layer of the build material <NUM> in the path of the recoat assembly <NUM>. The recoat assembly <NUM> is then actuated along a working axis <NUM> of the additive manufacturing system <NUM> towards the build platform <NUM>. As the recoat assembly <NUM> traverses the working axis <NUM> over the supply platform <NUM> towards the build platform <NUM>, the recoat assembly <NUM> dispenses the layer of build material <NUM> in the path of the recoat assembly <NUM> from the supply platform <NUM> to the build platform <NUM>.

Thereafter, a heating assembly <NUM> moves along the working axis <NUM> over the build platform <NUM> and may apply energy to fuse the build material <NUM>, thereby forming a fused product <NUM>. In some embodiments, the heating assembly <NUM> may include a laser or the like to apply energy to the build material <NUM>. The heating assembly <NUM> can then move to a home position <NUM>.

The supply platform <NUM> may then be actuated in an upward vertical direction (i.e., in the +Z direction of the coordinate axes depicted in the figure) as indicated by arrow <NUM> to present a new layer of build material <NUM> in the path of the recoat assembly <NUM>. The build platform <NUM> is actuated in the downward vertical direction (i.e., in the -Z direction of the coordinate axes depicted in the figure) as indicated by arrow <NUM> to prepare the build platform <NUM> to receive a new layer of build material <NUM> from the supply platform <NUM>. The recoat assembly <NUM> is then actuated along the working axis <NUM> of the additive manufacturing system <NUM> again to add another layer of build material <NUM> and fused product <NUM> to the build platform <NUM>. This sequence of steps is repeated multiple times to build a three-dimensional product on the build platform <NUM> in a layer-wise manner.

While the embodiment depicted in <FIG> and described above describes the recoat assembly <NUM> and the heating assembly <NUM> as being different components, it should be understood that recoat assembly <NUM> and the heating assembly <NUM> may be included in a common assembly that is movable along the working axis <NUM>. Further, while in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, build material <NUM> is supplied via the supply platform <NUM>, it should be understood that this is merely an example, and build material <NUM> can be supplied to the build receptacle from a hopper or the like. Further, while in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, the heating assembly <NUM> is depicted and described as being movable along the working axis <NUM>, it should be understood that this is merely an example, and the heating assembly <NUM> may be movable in any suitable direction and may be stationary in some embodiments.

In embodiments, at least a portion of the additive manufacturing system <NUM> may be positioned within a build housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the build housing <NUM> may hermetically or non-hermetically seal at least a portion of the additive manufacturing system <NUM>, and gas may be positioned within the build housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the gas positioned within the build housing <NUM> may restrict combustion within the build housing <NUM>, and may include one or more inert gases.

As build material <NUM> is fused to form the fused product <NUM>, condensates may be formed, and in some instances, the condensates may be airborne within the build housing <NUM>. In the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, the additive manufacturing system <NUM> includes a filtration system <NUM> in communication with the build housing <NUM>. The filtration system <NUM>, in embodiments, may draw gases out of the build housing <NUM> and may filter the gases, as described in greater detail herein.

Referring to <FIG>, a section view of the filtration system <NUM> is schematically depicted. In embodiments, the filtration system <NUM> generally includes an outer housing <NUM>, a housing inlet <NUM>, and one or more housing outlets <NUM>. In embodiments, the gases from the build housing <NUM> (<FIG>) may pass through the housing inlet <NUM> into the outer housing <NUM>, and may pass out of the outer housing <NUM> through the one or more housing outlets <NUM>. While in the embodiment depicted in <FIG> the housing inlet <NUM> and the one or more housing outlets <NUM> are depicted as being on particular surfaces of the outer housing <NUM>, it should be understood that this is merely an example. In embodiments, the housing inlet <NUM> and the one or more housing outlets <NUM> may be positioned at any suitable location on the outer housing <NUM>, and the housing inlet <NUM> and the one or more housing outlets <NUM> may be positioned on the same or different surfaces of the outer housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, perspective views of the filtration system <NUM> are schematically depicted. In embodiments, the filtration system <NUM> generally includes one or more filtration media <NUM> positioned at least partially within the outer housing <NUM>. In embodiments, the one or more filtration mediums <NUM> are structurally configured to filter gas passed from a dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> to a clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>.

As gas passes into the outer housing <NUM> via the housing inlet <NUM>, and from the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> to the clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, volatile material, such as condensate <NUM>, is deposited on the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>.

After passing from the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> to the clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, the gas moves to inner chambers <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>. The inner chambers <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> are in communication with the one or more housing outlets <NUM>, and gas within the inner chambers <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> may exit the filtration system <NUM> through the housing outlets <NUM>. In some embodiments, filtered gas from the filtration system <NUM> may be recycled to the build housing <NUM> (<FIG>). In some embodiments, filtered gas from the filtration system <NUM> may be stored and/or released to the atmosphere. While in the embodiment depicted in <FIG> the filtration system <NUM> includes a single housing outlet <NUM>, it should be understood that this is merely an example, and embodiments described herein may include any suitable number of housing outlets <NUM>. Further, in some embodiments, an outlet filter <NUM> may be positioned between the filtration mediums <NUM> and the one or more housing outlets <NUM>. The outlet filter <NUM> may include a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter configured to filter gas exiting the filtration system <NUM> via the one or more housing outlets <NUM>.

While in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, <FIG>, the filtration mediums <NUM> are cylindrically-shaped with the dirty sides <NUM> positioned on an outer perimeter of the filtration mediums <NUM> and the clean sides <NUM> on an inner perimeter of the filtration mediums <NUM>, it should be understood that this is merely an example. In embodiments according to the present disclosure, the filtration mediums may include any suitable shape for filtering the condensate <NUM> from a gas passing from a dirty side of the filtration medium to a clean side of the filtration medium. Further, while in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, <FIG> the filtration system <NUM> includes two filtration mediums <NUM>, it should be understood that filtration system <NUM> according to the present disclosure may include any suitable number of filtration mediums <NUM>.

Over time, as condensate <NUM> accumulates on the dirty sides <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, the filtration mediums <NUM> may be removed and replaced with new filtration mediums <NUM>. In embodiments, the condensate <NUM> may be volatile and may be prone to spontaneous combustion upon exposure to oxygen in ambient air. For example, as the filtration mediums <NUM> are removed from the outer housing <NUM>, the condensate <NUM> accumulated on the dirty sides <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> may be exposed to oxygen in ambient air, which can lead to combustion of the condensate <NUM>. In embodiments according to the present disclosure, the filtration mediums <NUM> may be wetted with a passivation fluid, such as water, before being removed from the outer housing <NUM>. By wetting the filtration mediums <NUM>, volatile material (e.g., the condensate <NUM>) may be passivated, thereby reducing the likelihood of combustion of the volatile material.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a perspective view of a filling device <NUM> is schematically depicted. In embodiments, the filling device <NUM> includes a filling inlet <NUM> and a filling outlet <NUM>. Passivation fluid, such as water, may pass through the filling device <NUM> from the filling inlet <NUM> to the filling outlet <NUM>. In some embodiments, the filling inlet <NUM> may be selectively coupled to a passivation source, such as a water tap or the like, and the filling outlet <NUM> may be selectively coupled to the outer housing <NUM> of the filtration system <NUM>. By allowing the filling device <NUM> to be coupled to a common water tap, the filling device <NUM> may be utilized in a variety of applications without requiring access to specialized sources of passivation fluid. For example in some embodiments, the filling outlet <NUM> may be selectively coupled to the housing inlet <NUM> of the outer housing <NUM>. In some embodiments, the filling outlet <NUM> may be selectively coupled to a fluid inlet <NUM> of the outer housing <NUM>. While in the embodiment depicted in <FIG> the fluid inlet <NUM> is positioned at a lower portion of the outer housing <NUM>, it should be understood that the fluid inlet <NUM> may be at any suitable location exterior to the dirty sides <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>.

The filling device <NUM> further includes a valve <NUM> and a controller <NUM> communicatively coupled to the valve <NUM>. In embodiments, the valve <NUM> is positionable between an open position, in which passivation fluid (e.g., water) can flow from the filling inlet <NUM> to the filling outlet <NUM>, and a closed position, in which flow of the passivation fluid (e.g., water) from the filling inlet <NUM> to the filling outlet <NUM> is restricted.

In some embodiments, the filling device <NUM> may further include a volume detection device <NUM> that is structurally configured to detect a volume and/or flow rate of passivation fluid passing through the filling device <NUM>. The volume detection device <NUM> may include any device for detecting a volume and/or a flow rate of fluid passing through the filling device <NUM>, such as a flowmeter or the like.

Referring to <FIG>, a control diagram of the filling device <NUM> is schematically depicted. The filling device <NUM> generally includes the controller <NUM> communicatively coupled to the valve <NUM>. The controller <NUM>, in embodiments, generally includes a processor <NUM>, a data storage component <NUM>, and/or a memory component <NUM>. The memory component <NUM> may be configured as volatile and/or nonvolatile memory and as such, may include random access memory (including SRAM, DRAM, and/or other types of RAM), flash memory, secure digital (SD) memory, registers, compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD), and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readable mediums. Depending on the particular embodiment, these non-transitory computer-readable mediums may reside within the controller <NUM> and/or external to the controller <NUM>.

The memory component <NUM> may store operating logic, analysis logic, and communication logic in the form of one or more computer readable and executable instruction sets. The analysis logic and the communication logic may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic, each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/or hardware, as an example. A local interface may also be included in the controller <NUM>, and may be implemented as a bus or other communication interface to facilitate communication among the components of the controller <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may include any processing component operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from a data storage component <NUM> and/or the memory component <NUM>). It should be understood that while the components in <FIG> are illustrated as residing within the controller <NUM>, this is merely an example, and in some embodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to the controller <NUM>. It should also be understood that, while the controller <NUM> is illustrated as a single device, this is also merely an example.

In embodiments, the controller <NUM> is communicatively coupled to one or more components of the filling device <NUM>. For example, in the embodiment depicted in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the valve <NUM>. In embodiments, the valve <NUM> may send and/or receive signals from the controller <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may send signals to the valve <NUM> directing the valve <NUM> to move between the open and the closed position to control the flow of passivation fluid (e.g., water) through the filling device <NUM> to the outer housing <NUM> (<FIG>).

In some embodiments, the filling device <NUM> further includes the volume detection device <NUM> communicatively coupled to the controller <NUM>. In embodiments, the volume detection device <NUM> may send signals to the controller <NUM> indicative of a volume and/or a flow rate of passivation fluid (e.g., water) passing through the filling device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a flowchart of one method for operating the filling device <NUM> is depicted. In a first block <NUM>, passivation fluid (e.g., water) is passed to the interior space <NUM> defined at least in part by the outer housing <NUM> and the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration medium <NUM>. At block <NUM>, an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is detected. For example, in embodiments, the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is associated with the amount of passivation fluid passed through the filling device <NUM> (e.g., from the filling inlet <NUM> to the filling outlet <NUM>). At block <NUM>, the controller <NUM> determines whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is less than a configurable threshold. In response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is less than the configurable threshold, at block <NUM>, the filling device <NUM> continues to pass passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. For example, in embodiments, the controller <NUM> may direct the valve <NUM> to remain in the open position such that the filling device <NUM> continues to pass passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. In response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is not less than the configurable threshold, at block <NUM>, the filling device <NUM> stops the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. For example, in embodiments, the controller <NUM> directs the valve <NUM> to move to the closed position, such that passivation fluid no longer flows from the filling device <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>. In some embodiments, subsequent to stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>, the filtration medium <NUM> can be removed from the outer housing <NUM>.

In embodiments, the configurable threshold is associated with an amount of passivation fluid to wet volatile material (e.g., the condensate <NUM>) positioned on the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration medium <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, the configurable threshold may be associated with an amount of passivation fluid that fills the interior space <NUM>. According to the invention, the configurable threshold is associated with an amount of passivation fluid that fills the interior space <NUM> and the inner chambers <NUM> defined by the filtration mediums <NUM>.

In embodiments, by automatically determining whether the amount of passivation fluid is less than the configurable threshold with the controller <NUM> and the volume detection device <NUM>, the filling device <NUM> may reduce the likelihood that the filtration mediums <NUM> are removed from the outer housing <NUM> with dry condensate <NUM> positioned on the filtration mediums <NUM>. Further, by passing passivation fluid (e.g., water) to the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, the condensate <NUM> positioned on the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> may be wetted without requiring that the passivation fluid passes through the filtration mediums <NUM>, thereby reducing the amount of time required to wet the filtration mediums <NUM>. For example, in some configurations, passivation fluid (e.g., water) may be passed to the interior space <NUM> from the clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, and the passivation fluid may flow from the clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> to the dirty side of the filtration mediums <NUM>. However, flow of the passivation fluid from the clean side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> to the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> may be restricted, for example by the filtration mediums <NUM> and the condensate <NUM> positioned on the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>. Accordingly, by passing passivation fluid to the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM>, the condensate <NUM> on the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration mediums <NUM> may be wetted without necessarily passing the passivation fluid through the filtration mediums <NUM>. In this way, the amount of time required to wet the condensate <NUM> may be reduced as compared to configurations in which the passivation fluid is passed through the filtration mediums <NUM>.

In some embodiments, gases within the outer housing <NUM> may be vented to an exterior location, for example as the passivation fluid is passed into the interior space <NUM>. As one example, the filtration system <NUM> may be positioned within a structure such as a building, and gases within the outer housing <NUM> may be vented to a location exterior to the building as the passivation fluid is passed into the interior space <NUM>. Without being bound by theory, gases may be formed as byproducts of reactive metals, such as titanium or aluminum, being mixed with the passivation fluid. Build material <NUM> (<FIG>) may include one or more of these reactive metals, and the reactive metals can be carried into the filtration system <NUM> and generate gaseous byproducts, such as oxyhydrogen, and these gaseous byproducts may be vented to the exterior location.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a flowchart for operating the additive manufacturing system <NUM> is depicted. In a first block <NUM>, powdered build material <NUM> is dispensed, for example to the build receptacle <NUM> by the recoat assembly <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a three-dimensional product is formed from the build material <NUM>, for example by forming fused product <NUM>. At block <NUM>, condensate <NUM> formed from the powdered build material <NUM> and/or the fused build material <NUM> is passed to the filtration system <NUM>. At block <NUM> passivation fluid (e.g., water) is passed to the interior space <NUM> defined at least in part by the outer housing <NUM> and the dirty side <NUM> of the filtration medium <NUM>. As described above, in some embodiments, the passivation fluid may pass through the filtration medium <NUM> to the interior chamber <NUM>. At block <NUM>, an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is detected. For example, in embodiments, the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is associated with the amount of passivation fluid passed through the filling device <NUM> (e.g., from the filling inlet <NUM> to the filling outlet <NUM>). At block <NUM>, the controller <NUM> determines whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is less than a configurable threshold. In response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is less than the configurable threshold, at block <NUM>, the filling device <NUM> continues to pass passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. For example, in embodiments, the controller <NUM> may direct the valve <NUM> to remain in the open position such that the filling device <NUM> continues to pass passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. In response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space <NUM> is not less than the configurable threshold, at block <NUM>, the filling device <NUM> stops the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space <NUM>. For example, in embodiments, the controller <NUM> directs the valve <NUM> to move to the closed position, such that passivation fluid no longer flows from the filling device <NUM> to the interior space <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method for wetting volatile material positioned on a filter from an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising:
passing a passivation fluid to an interior space (<NUM>) of a filtration system (<NUM>) comprising an outer housing (<NUM>), one or more filtration mediums (<NUM>) structurally configured to filter gas passed from a dirty side (<NUM>) of the one or more filtration mediums (<NUM>) to a clean side (<NUM>) of the one or more filtration mediums (<NUM>), wherein the interior space (<NUM>) is defined at least in part by the outer housing (<NUM>) and the dirty side of the one or more filtration mediums (<NUM>);
detecting an amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space (<NUM>) with a volume detection device (<NUM>) configured to detect a volume and/or a flow rate of passivation fluid passing through a filling device (<NUM>) into the interior space (<NUM>);
determining whether the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space (<NUM>) is less than a configurable threshold;
in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space (<NUM>) is less than the configurable threshold, continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space (<NUM>), wherein continuing to pass the passivation fluid to the interior space (<NUM>) comprises maintaining a valve (<NUM>) in communication with the interior space (<NUM>) in an open position; and
in response to determining that the amount of passivation fluid passed to the interior space (<NUM>) is not less than the configurable threshold, stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space (<NUM>), wherein stopping the passing of passivation fluid to the interior space (<NUM>) comprises moving a valve (<NUM>) in communication with the interior space (<NUM>) into a closed position, wherein the configurable threshold is determined by an amount of passivation fluid to fill the interior space (<NUM>) and one or more inner chambers (<NUM>) defined by the one or more filtration mediums (<NUM>).