General Electric Company
Additive manufacturing apparatus and related process

Abstract:

Additive manufacturing apparatus including a build module is presented. The build module includes a support structure; a powder supply chamber formed in the support structure; and powder applicator disposed on the support structure and located proximate to the powder supply chamber. The build module further includes a powder recovery chamber and a plurality of build plates spatially disposed around the powder recovery chamber, the plurality of build plates configured to move around the powder recovery chamber. The build module is configured such that during an additive manufacturing process step, a build plate of the plurality of build plates is disposed between the powder supply chamber and the powder recovery chamber, and the powder applicator is configured to distribute a required amount of the powder material from the powder supply chamber on the build plate and deposit any excess powder material in the powder recovery chamber. Related processes are also presented.