Apparatus for three-dimensionally printing reactive materials
AssigneeThe ExOne Company
InventorsMichael J. Orange, Rick D. Lucas, Kimberly E. Kanzler, Travis Maxwell Inks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses are disclosed for three-dimensionally printing reactive materials which utilize a powder spreading step followed by a binder-jet deposition step. Some such apparatuses include a binder jet three-dimensional printing device, a curing device, and a depowdering device contained within an environmental enclosure which provides an inert atmosphere sufficient to allow a reactive material to be used as a build material without fire or explosion hazards. Some such apparatuses include one or more conveying systems for moving a removable build box among the various devices. Environmental enclosures having unique designs and features are disclosed.
Claims5
An apparatus comprising:
- an environmental enclosure having an inner space, an interlock communicating between the inner space and an environment exterior to the environmental enclosure, and a glove port having a glove extending into the inner space, the environmental enclosure being adapted to maintain an inert atmosphere within the inner space;
- a binder jet deposition three-dimensional printer having a removable build box;
- a curing oven having a cavity adapted to receive the removable build box and to heat the removable build box to a preselected temperature;
- and
- a conveyor adapted to transport the removable build box between the binder jet deposition three-dimensional printer and the curing oven;
- wherein the binder jet deposition three-dimensional printer, the curing oven, and the conveyor are located within the inner space of the environmental enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.