Additive manufacturing build plates and handling

{
  "publication_number": "US10029307B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Additive manufacturing build plates and handling",
  "abstract": "An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An additive manufacturing build plate system comprising: a plate body defining a build surface, a rear surface opposite the build surface, and a peripheral surface that extends between the rear surface and the build surface; and at least one gripping feature defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface, further comprising a handling bracket removably engagable to the at least one gripping feature, wherein the at least one gripping feature is defined only in the peripheral surface and includes at least one slot defined in at least one corner of the plate body extending from a first side of the peripheral surface to second side of the peripheral surface diagonally wherein the slot includes a slot wall oriented oblique to the first side of the peripheral surface and to the second side of the peripheral surface, and wherein the handling bracket includes at least one mating feature configured to complementarily engage with the at least one slot.",
    "2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the handling bracket extends at least partially about the peripheral surface of the plate body.",
    "3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the handling bracket includes an interface configured for handling equipment to engage the handling bracket for handling of the plate body.",
    "4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the handling bracket extends fully about the peripheral surface of the plate body.",
    "5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the handling bracket includes a main member and a latching member which latch together to surround the peripheral surface of the plate body.",
    "6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the handling bracket extends along three complete sides of the plate body.",
    "7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the handling bracket includes at least one of a sliding mechanism or a hinging mechanism that allows the handling bracket to be disengaged from and engaged to the at least one gripping feature.",
    "8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the handling bracket fully extends along only one side of the peripheral surface.",
    "9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the peripheral surface defines a plurality of corners of the plate body, wherein each corner of the plate body includes a respective gripping feature.",
    "10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the gripping features are all spaced apart from one another.",
    "11. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a lifting device engaged to the handling bracket for handling the plate body.",
    "12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the handling bracket includes an interface, wherein the lifting device is engaged with the interface of the handling bracket for handling of the plate body.",
    "13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the interface includes at least one bore or through hole defined in the bracket.",
    "14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the interface includes at least one thin section that is thinner than adjacent portions of the handling bracket.",
    "15. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the lifting device includes articulation for manipulation of the plate body in a plurality of axes of movement.",
    "16. A method of handling a build plate comprising: engaging a handling bracket with a gripping feature defined in a peripheral surface of a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface, wherein the peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface, wherein the at least one gripping feature is defined only in the peripheral surface and includes at least one slot defined in at least one corner of the plate body extending from one side of the peripheral surface to another side of the peripheral surface diagonally wherein the slot includes a slot wall oriented oblique to the first side of the peripheral surface and to the second side of the peripheral surface, and wherein the handling bracket includes at least one mating feature configured to complementarily engage with the at least one slot; and lifting the plate body with a lifting device engaged to the handling bracket."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present disclosure relates to additive manufacturing, and more particularly to build plates such as used in additive manufacturing.\n\n2. Description of Related Art\n\nAdditive manufacturing (AM) is widely used in manufacturing due among other things to the flexibility it allows in design. A typical AM process starts with a build plate, which is set in an AM machine. One type of AM machine deposits a powder of metallic material on the build plate in successive layers, and between each successive deposition of powder, fuses selective portions of the powder to the underlying layer using a laser. This process of layering powder and fusing portions of each layer of powder to underlying layers eventually builds a part. Since the part is initiated by fusing the first layer of powder to the build plate, at the end of the process, the part is still fused to the build plate.\n\nPost processing can be performed to remove the part form the build plate and provide any further modifications to the part needed, much of which can be performed before removing the part from the build plate. It is often necessary to move the part and build plate from the AM machine to another machine such as a mill or the like. Build plates are heavy and awkward to handle, often weighing around 30-50 pounds (13.6-22.7 kg) after a build is complete. The rear of the plate (opposite the build) needs to be accessible for mounting on post processing equipment. Parts can be built close to the edge of the build plate, making material handing difficult or impossible while keeping the rear of the plate available for mounting.",
  "cpc": [
    "B22F 3/005",
    "B22F 10/00",
    "B22F 12/30",
    "B22F 2003/1056",
    "B22F 3/1055",
    "B29C 64/245",
    "B29C 64/40",
    "B33Y 30/00",
    "B33Y 40/00",
    "Y02P 10/25"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B22F 3/00",
    "B22F 3/105",
    "B33Y 30/00",
    "B33Y 40/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Delavan Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Lukas Shea",
    "Joseph Samo"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-05-10",
  "publication_date": "2018-07-24",
  "grant_date": "2018-07-24",
  "priority_date": "2016-05-10",
  "application_number": "US-201615151115-A",
  "family_id": "59065650",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
    "US2161629A",
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    "EP1769902A2",
    "US20120111238A1",
    "US20150202687A1",
    "CN203622963U",
    "US20160059308A1",
    "CN205395194U"
  ]
}