Airflow control for additive manufacturing

Abstract

The additive manufacturing device includes a positioning mechanism configured to provide independent movement of a build unit in at least two dimensions. The build unit may include a gasflow device for providing a flow zone and an irradiation beam directing unit. The irradiation beam directing unit may form a first solidification line and form a second solidification line at an angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line. During the formation of the first solidification line, the build unit may be positioned in a first orientation such that the first direction of the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line. During the formation of the second solidification line, the build unit may be positioned in a second orientation such that the flow zone along the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second solidification line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program configured to cause a computer to execute an additive manufacturing process using an additive manufacturing apparatus, the additive manufacturing process comprising: forming at least one first solidification line, wherein a gasflow device is positioned in a first orientation such that the flow zone is along a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first solidification line and extends substantially parallel to a build platform or a layer of powder disposed thereon; and forming at least a second solidification line formed at an angle other than 0° and 180° with respect to the first solidification line, wherein the gasflow device is re-positioned to a second orientation such that the flow zone is substantially perpendicular to the second solidification line,
 wherein the first direction is different from a propagation direction of an irradiation beam from the irradiation beam directing unit; and 
 wherein during the execution of the additive manufacturing process, the additive manufacturing apparatus build unit is controlled to rotate from the first orientation to the second orientation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the first direction. 
 
     
     
         2 . The program of  claim 1 , wherein during the execution of the additive manufacturing process, the gasflow device is controlled to produce a laminar flow along the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The program of  claim 1 , wherein during the execution of the additive manufacturing process, an irradiation beam directing unit is controlled to form the first solidification line and a plurality of solidification lines parallel to the first solidification line, wherein the irradiation beam directing unit is controlled to form the second solidification line and a plurality of solidification lines parallel to the second solidification line. 
     
     
         4 . The program of  claim 3 , wherein the additive manufacturing apparatus is further controlled to form first series of solidification lines on a first layer of powder and the second set of solidification lines on a second layer of powder provided over the first layer of powder by a powder delivery mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The program of  claim 1 , wherein the additive manufacturing apparatus is further controlled to rotate the build platform after forming at least one of the first solidification line or the second solidification line.