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US 10,207,317 B2Granted
Additive manufacturing of semi-solid metal alloys using ultrasonic agitation
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsAndrew J. Pascall, Eric B. Duoss, Ryan M. Hunt, Joshua Kuntz, Christopher M. Spadaccini, John Vericella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods that ultrasonically agitate a semisolid metal slurry to prevent dendrite formation that can lead to clogging of a nozzle during direct metal writing.
Claims15
An additive manufacturing apparatus for producing a product, comprising:
- an additive manufacturing print head, said additive manufacturing print head having a length;
- a metal build material;
- a port in said additive manufacturing print head for allowing said build material to flow through said additive manufacturing print head;
- a nozzle in said additive manufacturing print head, said nozzle adapted to receive said metal build material and adapted for extruding said metal build material;
- a wall adjacent said nozzle;
- a fluid gap between said wall and said nozzle, wherein said fluid gap receives said metal build material from said port;
- a heater system adjacent said nozzle for heating said metal build material;
- an ultrasonic agitation system for agitating said metal build material in said fluid gap, wherein said ultrasonic agitation system does not extend said length of said additive manufacturing print head;
- a substrate;
- and
- a system for producing relative movement between said additive manufacturing print head and said substrate to form the product.
8 more elements
An additive manufacturing method for producing a product, comprising the steps of:
- providing an additive manufacturing print head that has a length;
- providing a metal build material;
- providing a port in said additive manufacturing print head allowing said build material to flow through said additive manufacturing print head;
- providing a nozzle in said additive manufacturing print head that receives said metal build material and that extrudes said metal build material;
- providing a wall adjacent said nozzle;
- providing a fluid gap between said wall and said nozzle, wherein said fluid gap receives said metal build material from said port;
- providing a heater system adjacent said nozzle for heating said metal build material;
- providing an agitation system in said fluid gap, wherein said agitation system does not extend said length of said additive manufacturing print head and wherein said agitation system is used for agitating said metal build material;
- providing a substrate;
- and
- providing a system for producing relative movement between said additive manufacturing print head and said substrate to form the product.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.