# US 10,500,789 B2 · Automated de-powdering with robotically controlled vacuum > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,789 B2 - Document ID: US10500789B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/137,283 - Filed: 2018-09-20 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-14 - Assignees: Desktop Metal, Inc. - Applicants: Desktop Metal, Inc. - Inventors: Ricardo Fulop; Robert Michael Shydo, Jr.; Jonah Samuel Myerberg; Charles Edward Martin; Justin Cumming; Paul Hoisington; Emanuel M. Sachs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500789B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/35: Cleaning - B08B 3/12: by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations - B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} - B08B 7/028: {Using ultrasounds} - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - B22F 10/68: Cleaning or washing - B22F 12/88: Handling of additively manufactured products, e.g. by robots - B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber - B29C 64/357: Recycling - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing - B22F 12/222: {for motion along a direction orthogonal to the plane of a layer} - B22F 2003/1046: {with separating means for articles to be sintered} - B22F 2301/00: Metallic composition of the powder or its coating - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - 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) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - 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 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A system for de-powdering one or more objects within a powder print bed comprises a build box configured to contain the powder print bed, and a de-powdering subsystem configured to engage the build box. The de-powdering subsystem comprises a vacuum device configured to withdraw loose powder agitated by the air jet device, and a robotic arm configured to convey the vacuum device to one or more locations on the powder print bed. The system may further comprise an air jet device disposed on the robotic arm, the air jet device configured to agitate, with a jet of air, unbound powder within the powder print bed. The system may further comprise a mechanical agitation instrument configured to facilitate agitation of the unbound powder within the powder print bed. The mechanical agitation instrument may be used in conjunction with one or both of the vacuum device and the air jet device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for de-powdering one or more objects within a powder print bed, comprising: a build box configured to contain the powder print bed; a de-powdering subsystem configured to removably engage the build box via a coupling interface, the de-powdering subsystem comprising: (i) a vacuum device configured to withdraw loose powder from the build box; (ii) a robotic control system coupled to the vacuum device and configured to convey the vacuum device to one or more locations on the powder print bed; and (iii) a vibration generator configured to mechanically vibrate the build box. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an air jet device configured to direct air onto the powder print bed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the robotic control system comprises a first robotic arm configured to convey the vacuum device, and a second robotic arm configured to convey the air jet device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the air jet device comprises one or both of a high-volume, coarse de-powdering air jet device and (b) a low-volume, fine de-powdering air jet device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the de-powdering subsystem is configured to operate the vibration generator in conjunction with the vacuum device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic control system is configured to convey the vacuum device using information related to a surface, associated with one of an object and a group of objects, within the powder print bed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the surface is derived from the one of the object and the group of objects. ### Claim 8 A system for de-powdering one or more objects within a powder print bed, comprising: a build box configured to contain the powder print bed; a de-powdering subsystem configured to engage the build box, the de-powdering subsystem comprising: (i) a vacuum device configured to withdraw loose powder from the build box; (ii) a robotic control system coupled to the vacuum device and configured to convey the vacuum device to one or more locations on the powder print bed; (iii) a vibration generator configured to mechanically vibrate the build box; and (iv) an air jet device configured to direct an abrasive material onto the powder print bed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the air jet device comprises a cylindrical air jet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects are stacked in the powder print bed in a vertical direction, and wherein the robotic control system is configured to convey the vacuum device towards and away from the powder print bed in the vertical direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the robotic control system comprises a first robotic arm configured to convey the vacuum device, and a second robotic arm configured to convey the air jet device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the air jet device comprises one or both of a high-volume, coarse de-powdering air jet device and (b) a low-volume, fine de-powdering air jet device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the air jet device comprises a cylindrical air jet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the robotic control system is configured to convey the vacuum device using information related to a surface, associated with one of an object and a group of objects, within the powder print bed. ### Claim 15 A system for de-powdering one or more objects within a powder print bed, comprising: a build box configured to contain the powder print bed; a de-powdering subsystem configured to engage the build box, the de-powdering subsystem comprising: (i) a vacuum device configured to withdraw loose powder from the build box; (ii) a robotic control system coupled to the vacuum device and configured to convey the vacuum device to one or more locations on the powder print bed; (iii) a vibration generator configured to mechanically vibrate the build box; and (iv) an air jet device configured to direct a solvent onto the powder print bed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the robotic control system comprises a first robotic arm configured to convey the vacuum device, and a second robotic arm configured to convey the air jet device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the air jet device comprises a cylindrical air jet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the robotic control system is configured to convey the vacuum device using information related to a surface, associated with one of an object and a group of objects, within the powder print bed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The system claim 8, wherein the de-powdering subsystem is configured to removably engage the build box via a coupling interface.