Fabrication of 3D objects via direct powder deposition
AssigneeXactiv, Inc.
InventorsDan A. Hays, Peter J. Mason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of fabricating an object, comprising direct depositing a first layer of first object material on a support substrate electrode; applying a conductive agent material onto the first layer; direct depositing a first layer of charged powder onto the first layer on the support substrate electrode, to form a first powder layer on the first layer on the support substrate electrode. Multiple powder layers may be direct deposited on the first layer. The method may be further comprised of fusing the powder layer(s) to form a first fused layer on the support substrate electrode. A related object fabrication apparatus is also disclosed.
Claims14
An apparatus for fabricating an object, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a platform movable in a conveyance direction and comprised of a top surface;
- b) a first powder aperture array disposed proximate to the top surface of the platform and comprising a panel having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a first plurality of powder dispensing apertures, the powder dispensing apertures comprised of:
- an orifice extending through the panel from the inner surface to the outer surface;
- a ring electrode disposed in the panel proximate to the inner surface and surrounding the orifice, and electrically connected to a ring electrode voltage source;
- a first deflection control electrode disposed on the outer surface of the panel and proximate to a first sector of a perimeter of the orifice at the outer surface of the panel;
- and
- a second deflection control electrode disposed on the outer surface of the panel and proximate to a second sector of a perimeter of the orifice at the outer surface of the panel, wherein the second sector of the perimeter of the orifice is proximate and opposed to the first sector of the perimeter of the orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.