Three-dimensional printing of three-dimensional objects
AssigneeVelo3D, Inc.
InventorsBrian Charles Spink, Zachary Ryan Murphree, Tasso Lappas, Kimon Symeonidis, Rueben Joseph Mendelsberg
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems and/or software to form one or more three-dimensional objects, some of which may be complex. The three-dimensional objects may be formed by three-dimensional printing using one or more methodologies. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional object may comprise an overhang portion, such as a cavity ceiling, with diminished deformation and/or auxiliary support structures.
Claims31
A three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a plurality of layers of solid material that are stacked and bonded together to form a shape of the three-dimensional object, which plurality of layers of solid material comprises:
- a core characterized as having a first microstructure comprising a first plurality of grains associated with being formed at a first solidification rate;
- and
- a skin portion coupled with the core, which skin portion comprises:
- (i) a second microstructure comprising a second plurality of grains associated with being formed at a second solidification rate that is different than the first solidification rate, and
- (ii) an exterior surface corresponding to at least a fraction of an exterior surface of the three-dimensional object
- wherein the second plurality of grains are aligned and the first plurality of grains are misaligned.
A three-dimensional object, comprising:
- a plurality of layers of solid material that are stacked and bonded together to form a shape of the three-dimensional object, which plurality of layers of solid material comprises:
- a core characterized as having a first microstructure comprising a first plurality of grains associated with being formed at a first solidification rate;
- and
- a skin portion coupled with the core, which skin portion comprises:
- (i) a second microstructure comprising a second plurality of grains associated with being formed at a second solidification rate that is different than the first solidification rate, and
- (ii) an exterior surface corresponding to at least a fraction of an exterior surface of the three-dimensional object,
- wherein the core comprises a first set of melt pools, wherein the skin portion comprises a second set of melt pools, wherein an orientation of the second plurality of grains is with respect to (I) a rim of a melt pool of the second set of melt pools and/or (II) the exterior surface of the skin portion, and wherein melt pools of the second set of melt pools are aligned with the exterior surface of the skin portion.
A three-dimensional object comprising:
- a plurality of layers of solid material that are stacked and bonded together to form a shape of the three-dimensional object, which plurality of layers of solid material comprises:
- a core characterized as having a first microstructure comprising a first plurality of grains associated with being formed at a first solidification rate;
- and
- a skin portion coupled with the core, which skin portion comprises:
- (i) a second microstructure comprising a second plurality of grains associated with being formed at a second solidification rate that is different than the first solidification rate, and
- (ii) an exterior surface corresponding to at least a fraction of an exterior surface of the three-dimensional object,
- wherein the skin portion is characterized by a plurality of tiles, wherein centers of successive tiles are substantially uniformly spaced apart from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.