US 11,110,661 B2Granted

Self-modifying process for rotational support structure removal in 3D printed parts using calibrated resonant frequency

AssigneePostProcess Technologies, Inc.

InventorDaniel Joshua Hutchinson

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Abstract

A process for removing support material from a part made by an additive manufacturing process is disclosed. The part may be arranged in a media filled tank. Ultrasonic waves are directed for the part and/or support material. Ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic transducer are applied to a part or support material and cause the part to vibrate. The frequency of the ultrasonic energy may be tuned to cause the part and/or the support material to vibrate at its resonant frequency. The support material may have different properties, such as density, geometry, material, or porosity. Such differences may allow the support material to resonate in response to the applied ultrasonic energy waves at a different ultrasonic frequency than, the part itself.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method of removing support material, comprising:

(a) placing a part having support material within a chamber, the chamber having a media arranged within the chamber;
(b) activating a pump to create flow of the media within the chamber;
(c) removing the support material from the part by agitating the part and the support material via an ultrasonic transducer emitting energy at a first agitation energy level, the first agitation energy level having a first frequency;
(d) measuring an amplitude at which the support material vibrates;
(e) analyzing the amplitude to determine whether the support material is vibrating at a resonant frequency;
(f) if the support material is not vibrating at the resonant frequency, agitating the part and the support material via the ultrasonic transducer at a second agitation energy level having a second frequency, and repeating steps (d) through (f) until step e results in a determination that the support material is vibrating at the resonant frequency;
and
(g) if the support material is vibrating at the resonant frequency, maintaining the agitation energy level that causes the support material to vibrate at the resonate frequency.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/348,276Filed 15 Nov 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Nov 2016
Published: US 2019/0315065 A117 Oct 2019
Granted: 7 Sep 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B29C 64/35
Auxiliary operations or equipment: cleaning
B08B 3/12
With additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration: by sonic or ultrasonic…
B33Y 40/20
Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling: post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing
B29C
Shaping or joining of plastics