# US 10,245,781 B2 · Method for producing mechanical engagement between a build platform and additive manufacturing prints

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- Number: US 10,245,781 B2
- Document ID: US10245781B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/876,342
- Filed: 2018-01-22
- Published: 2018-05-31
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-20
- Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC
- Applicants: UT-Battelle, LLC
- Inventors: Amelia M. Elliott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245781B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
- B23Q 7/03: by means of endless chain conveyors ({B23Q7/1447,} B23Q7/16 take precedence)
- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
- B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40)
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

A build platform and methods of fabricating an article with such a platform in an extrusion-type additive manufacturing machine are provided. A platform body 202 includes features 204 that extend outward from the body 202. The features 204 define protrusive areas 206 and recessive areas 208 that cooperate to mechanically engage the extruded material that forms the initial layers 220 of an article when the article is being fabricated by a nozzle 12 of the additive manufacturing machine 10.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for fabricating an article of manufacture from layers of a material extruded by an additive manufacturing machine nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
a. positioning a platform body having features extending outward from said body and defining protrusive areas and recessive areas of said body, where the protrusive areas overhang the recessive areas when viewed from a nozzle central axis direction, in a build area that is accessible by the nozzle;
b. extruding one or more initial layers of material with the nozzle across the protrusive areas and recessive areas at a first traverse speed such that at least one of the one or more initial layers at least partially fills the recessive areas and is mechanically engaged by the extending features;
c. extruding additional layers of material with the nozzle on top of the one or more initial layers at a second traverse speed such that the additional layers are thermally bonded to the one or more initial layers and the article of manufacture is engaged with the platform body; and
d. disengaging the article of manufacture from the platform.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first traverse speed is less than the second traverse speed in the extruding steps.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first traverse speed is equal to the second traverse speed in the extruding steps.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first traverse speed is greater than the second traverse speed in the extruding steps.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the disengaging step includes sliding the article from the platform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the disengaging step includes flexing the features apart.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the disengaging step includes flexing the features apart by rotating the platform body around a cylindrical roller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the disengaging step includes rotating the features 360 degrees about their longitudinal axes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of:
e. removing the one or more initial layers from the article of manufacture.