Back to results
US 11,241,824 B2Granted
Layer transfusion for heat capacitor belt for additive manufacturing
AssigneeEvolve Additive Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJames W. Comb, Steven A. Chillscyzn, William J. Hanson, J. Randolph Sanders, Michael W. Bacus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An additive manufacturing system comprising a transfer medium configured to receive the layers from a imaging engine, a heater configured to heat the layers on the transfer medium, and a layer transfusion assembly that includes a build platform, and is configured to transfuse the heated layers onto the build platform in a layer-by-layer manner to print a three-dimensional part.
Claims19
A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- imaging a new layer of the three-dimensional part;
- rotating a belt at a belt speed, the belt having an average thermal inertia of at least about 400 joules/(meter2−Kelvin−second0.5);
- transferring the new layer to the rotating belt, the rotating belt moving in a path about a roller such that the new layer is adhered to the rotating belt;
- heating the rotating belt and the new layer while the new layer is adhered to the rotating belt;
- moving a platform carrying a stack of one or more previously transferred layers to a location upstream of the roller;
- after the step of heating, engaging the heated rotating belt with a nip roller, which presses the new layer to a top surface of the stack of one or more previously transferred layers to provide a stack including the new layer;
- moving the stack including the new layer in a direction and at a rate that is synchronized with of the belt speed;
- conducting thermal energy from the rotating belt to the stack including the new layer while moving the stack including the new layer in the synchronized direction and rate such that the new layer registers with the stack of one or more previously transferred layers and is transfused to the stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure in a nip between the belt and the stack of one or more previously transferred layers to provide a stack including the new layer;
- after the step of engaging, releasing the new layer from the rotating belt such that the new layer defines a new top surface of the stack including the new layer;
- and
- cooling the stack including the new layer to remove substantially all of an amount of heat imparted into the stack including the new layer from the step of heating the rotating belt and the new layer and the step of the new layer being transfused to the stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure.
8 more elements
A method of printing a structure including a part utilizing an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- forming a new layer of particulate polymeric material with an electrophotographic engine;
- transferring the new layer to a continuous belt which is moving in a path about a roller such that the new layer is adhered to the continuous belt;
- moving a platform carrying a stack of one or more previously transferred layers to a location upstream of the roller;
- heating a top surface of the stack of one or more previously transferred layers;
- moving the platform beneath the roller such that the new layer registers with the stack of one or more previously transferred layers and is transfused to the stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure in a nip between the belt and the stack of one or more previously transferred layers to provide a stack including the new layer;
- and
- cooling the stack including the new layer to remove substantially all of an amount of heat imparted into the stack including the new layer from the step of heating a top surface of the stack of one or more previously transferred layers and the step of the new layer being transfused to the stack of stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure.
4 more elements
A method of printing a structure including a part utilizing an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- forming a new layer of particulate polymeric material comprising particulate polymeric part material and particulate polymeric support material with an electrophotographic engine;
- transferring the new layer to a continuous belt which is moving in a path about a roller such that the new layer is adhered to the continuous belt;
- moving a platform carrying a stack of one or more previously transferred layers to a location upstream of the roller;
- heating a top surface of the stack of one or more previously transferred layers;
- moving the platform beneath the roller such that the new layer registers with the stack of one or more previously transferred layers and is transfused to the stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure in a nip between the belt and the stack of one or more previously transferred layers to provide a stack including the new layer;
- and
- cooling the stack including the new layer to remove substantially all of an amount of heat imparted into the stack including the new layer from the step of heating a top surface of the stack of one or more previously transferred layers and the step of the new layer being transfused to the stack of stack of one or more previously transferred layers utilizing heat and pressure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.