General Electric Company
Recoating Assembly for an Additive Manufacturing Machine

Abstract:

An additive manufacturing machine includes a build platform being movable along a build direction and a powder supply assembly for dispensing additive powder above a build plane. A recoating assembly is used for spreading the additive powder into a build layer on the powder bed. The recoating assembly includes a support beam that slidably supports a recoater blade and moves along a recoater direction over the powder bed. A blade positioning mechanism adjusts the vertical position of the recoater blade in response to measurements from a sensing device which measures a tip clearance between the recoater blade and the build plane. The tip clearance may be measured along the length of the recoater blade while stationary and while moving along the recoater direction to obtain a smooth and level layer of additive powder.