# US 11,110,658 B2 · System and method for automated successive three-dimensional printing

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- Number: US 11,110,658 B2
- Document ID: US11110658B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/946,188
- Filed: 2020-06-09
- Published: 2020-09-24
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-02
- Assignees: R3 Printing, Inc.
- Applicants: R3 Printing, Inc.
- Inventors: Paul Sieradzki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110658B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40)
- B29C 64/00: 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
- B29C 64/227: Driving means
- B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers
- B29C 64/295: Heating elements
- B29C 64/379: Handling of additively manufactured objects, e.g. using robots
- B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
- B29C 64/106: using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
- B29C 64/205: Means for applying layers
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- 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)
- 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 system and method for autonomously creating subsequent physical objects using a 3-dimensional printer. The system includes a build platform that melts or sublimates at a lower temperature and pressure than the glass-transition temperature of the printed object, allowing the printed object to become detached and removed from the build area with minimal force.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of ejecting an object from a print area, the object being printed by a 3-dimensional printer, the print area comprising a build plane, a build platform constructed entirely out of a material with a melting point between 40° C. and 55° C., the build platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a reservoir configured to contain the build platform, a push mechanism, having a horizontal actuator attached to a plow, where the plow is located proximately to the build platform, the horizontal actuator being configured to provide sufficient force to eject the object beyond the build platform, and a temperature regulator, located below the bottom surface, the method comprising the steps of:
providing, by the 3-dimensional printer, a printed object, wherein the printed object is adhered to the top surface of the build platform;
heating the build platform, by the temperature regulator, to at least the melting point of the build platform;
allowing, the build platform to melt and the printed object to become disjoined from the top surface of the build platform; and
pushing the printed object off the build platform by the plow of the push mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the material is a gallium or a gallium-alloy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling, by the temperature regulator such that the build surface deposits within the reservoir.

### Claim 4

A method of ejecting an object from a print area, the object being printed by a 3-dimensional printer, the print area comprising a build plane, a build platform, having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a reservoir that extends therebetween and surrounds the build platform, a push mechanism, having a horizontal actuator attached to a plow, where the plow is located proximately to the build platform, the horizontal actuator being configured to provide sufficient force to eject the object beyond the build platform, and a temperature regulator, located below the bottom surface, an air-tight chamber configured to envelope the build platform, the push mechanism, and the temperature regulator, the method comprising the steps of:
providing, by the 3-dimensional printer, a printed object, wherein the printed object is adhered to the top surface of the build platform;
heating the build platform, by the temperature regulator, to a sublimation point of the build platform;
allowing, the build platform to sublimate and the printed object to become disjoined from the top surface of the build platform; and
pushing the printed object off the build platform by the plow of the push mechanism.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the step of heating the build platform is followed by the step of changing the pressure in the air-tight chamber, by a pressure modulator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of cooling, by the temperature regulator and changing the pressure, by the pressure modulator such that the build surface deposits within the reservoir.