US-12617156-B2 - Method and device for determining the position of a pre-fabricated device in additive manufacturing

US12617156B2US 12617156 B2US12617156 B2US 12617156B2US-12617156-B2

Abstract

A method for determining a position of a base device in an additive manufacturing device is provided. The method includes positioning a position determining device, PDD, on the base device, such that the PDD protrudes from the base device after positioning, wherein the PDD includes an edge. The method further includes determining the position of the PDD based on the edge of the PDD, and based on the position of the PDD, determining the position of the base device.

Inventors

Ville-Pekka MATILAINEN
Per Viklund

Assignees

SANDVIK MACHINING SOLUTIONS AB

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220421
Priority Date: 20210422

Claims (9)

1 . A method for determining a position of a base device in an additive manufacturing device, the method comprising: positioning a position determining device, PDD, on the base device, such that the PDD protrudes from the base device after positioning, wherein the PDD includes an edge; determining a position of the PDD based on the edge of the PDD; based on the position of the PDD, determining a position of the base device; and removing the PDD from the base device prior to initiating an additive manufacturing process.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the position of the PDD based on the edge of the PDD includes scanning the edge of the PDD with a light source.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein determining the position of the PDD further includes scanning the base device with the light source.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the position of the base device includes determining the rotational position of the base device.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the position of the base device includes determining a spatial position of the base device.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning of the PDD includes positioning the PDD into an existing recess of the base device.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a relative position between the PDD and the base device.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the PDD is positioned such that a top surface of the PDD is level with a top of the base device.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising modifying a printing instruction to the additive manufacturing device, based on a rotational position of the base device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA This application is a § 371 National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2022/060636 filed Apr. 21, 2022 claiming priority to SE 2100059-1 filed Apr. 22, 2021. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for determining the position of a base device, especially a base device used for hybrid builds in additive manufacturing. BACKGROUND Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, generally involves manufacturing, or printing, one layer at a time using specialized systems. In particular, a layer of material may be deposited on the working surface of a build chamber and bonded with another layer of the same or of a different material. Additive manufacturing may be used to manufacture articles from computer-aided design models using techniques such as powder bed fusion (PBF) and binder jetting. In some applications, additive manufacturing may be used to manufacture an article on top of a pre-manufactured base device, commonly referred to as a blank, and such articles are often referred to as hybrid articles. When manufacturing hybrid articles, it is crucial to have accurate information regarding the position of the base device, in order to position the article correctly on top of the base device. The position of the base device may be seen as having at least two relevant components, one being the position in space, and the other being the rotational position of the base device. Determining the position of the base device in can be done by e.g. using a laser to scan the edge of the blank, although this may negatively impact the blank. Further, determining the position, especially the rotational position, of the base device may be difficult, especially in cases where the base device is round or cylindrical. Consequently, there exists a need for improvement when it comes to determining the position of base devices used when manufacturing hybrid articles using additive manufacturing. SUMMARY It is an object of the invention to address at least some of the problems and issues outlined above. An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide a better way for determining the position of a base device in an additive manufacturing device. Another object is to provide a method for determining the position of a base device without negatively impacting the base device. Another object is to provide a device which maybe used for determining the position of a base device. According to one aspect a method for determining a position of a base device in an additive manufacturing device is provided. The method comprises positioning a position determining device, PDD, on the base device, such that the PDD protrudes from the base device after positioning, wherein the PDD comprises an edge. The method further comprises determining the position of the PDD based on the edge of the PDD, and based on the position of the PDD, determining the position of the base device. According to another aspect, a Position Determining Device, PDD, adapted to be positioned onto a base device of an additive manufacturing device, is provided. The PDD comprises a main body adapted to fit a base device and a feature adapted to be positioned into an existing recess of the base device. The PDD further comprises an edge, wherein the edge is used for determining the position of the PDD when the PDD is attached to the base device. Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a Position Determining Device, PDD, according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the PDD of FIG. 1 attached to a base device. FIG. 3 shows a plurality of PDDs of FIG. 1 attached to a plurality of base devices, on a base plate of an additive manufacturing device. FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for determining a position of a base device, according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Briefly described, the present disclosure relates to a method and a device for determining a position of a base device used in additive manufacturing, wherein a base device is a device on top of which an article is to be manufactured using additive manufacturing. The method comprises positioning a Position Determining Device, PDD, on the base device, optionally into a pre-existing recess of the base device. The method further comprises determining the position of the PDD, after it has been positioned on the base device, and based on the position of the position of the PDD, determining the position of the base device. The position of the base device which is being determined may be either a rotational positional, a spatial position, or both. For the purpose of this disclosure, a base device is a device upon which an article is to be manufactured using additive m