# US 11,305,491 B2 · Three-dimensional (3D) object printing based on a build material, moisture content level > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,491 B2 - Document ID: US11305491B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/607,752 - Filed: 2018-04-06 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-06 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Justin M. Roman; Luke Sosnowski; David Soriano; Emiliano Gabriel Tolosa Gonzalez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305491B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers - B22F 10/34: of powder characteristics, e.g. density, oxidation or flowability - B22F 12/90: Means for process control, e.g. cameras or sensors - B29C 64/10: Processes of additive manufacturing - B29C 64/314: Preparation - B29C 64/357: Recycling - B29C 64/364: Conditioning of environment - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/10: Pre-treatment - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B22F 1/052: characterised by a mixture of particles of different sizes or by the particle size distribution - B22F 10/14: by jetting of binder onto a bed of metal powder - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B22F 10/73: of powder - B22F 12/50: Means for feeding of material, e.g. heads - B22F 12/52: Hoppers - B22F 12/55: Two or more means for feeding material - B22F 12/57: Metering means - B22F 12/58: for changing the material composition, e.g. by mixing - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - 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) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - 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 for manufacturing three dimensional objects can include logic to detect, for at least one vessel, a moisture content level corresponding to a build material residing in the at least one vessel. The logic can also adjust a humidity level and a temperature of a gas and a conditioning agent applied to the at least one vessel, wherein the humidity level and the temperature are based on the moisture content level and a temperature of the build material residing in the at least one vessel. Additionally, the logic can initialize manufacturing a three dimensional object with the build material from the at least one vessel in response to detecting the moisture content level of the build material residing in the at least one vessel is within a predetermined range. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for manufacturing three dimensional objects, comprising: a build material vessel to contain a build material; a feeder connected to the build material vessel; a humidity sensor; a conditioning agent source; a controller; and a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that upon execution on the controller cause the controller to: determine, based on data from the humidity sensor, a moisture content level of the build material in the build material vessel; adjust a humidity level of a gas and a conditioning agent applied to the build material vessel, wherein the humidity level is based on the moisture content level and a temperature of the build material residing in the build material vessel; adjust the feeder connected to the build material vessel to dispense the build material into a conduit to carry the build material to a location for dispensing into a build enclosure; and initialize manufacturing of a three dimensional object in the build enclosure with the build material from the build material vessel in response to detecting the moisture content level of the build material in the build material vessel is within a predetermined range. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to control a valve to adjust an amount of the conditioning agent and the gas entering the build material vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity generator connected to the build material vessel to provide the conditioning agent and the gas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a storage vessel including a build material stored with a high humidity, and wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to control provision of the build material stored with the high humidity to the build material vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity generator and a water reservoir to provide water to the humidity generator connected to the build material vessel via a one way conduit, wherein the water reservoir comprises a first water level sensor and the humidity generator comprises a second water level sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan to circulate exhaust air from a location within the system, wherein the fan is to blow the conditioning agent and the exhaust air through a humidity generator and into the build material vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a heat source; a heat exchanger having a first side to remove loose build material from the heat source and transfer heat from the heat source to the gas; and a fan to blow a heated gas or conditioning agent from a second side of the heat exchanger through a humidity generator and into the build material vessel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit proximate a top of the build material vessel to transport excess vapor from the build material vessel to a location outside of the system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fan residing proximate a top of the build material vessel to diffuse excess vapor exiting the top of the build material vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit proximate a top of the build material vessel to recirculate excess vapor through a fan to a bottom of the build material vessel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor residing proximate a top of the build material vessel to detect a humidity level of excess vapor, wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to adjust an amount of the conditioning agent applied to the gas in response to a change in the humidity level of the excess vapor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity generator to provide the conditioning agent and the gas to the build material vessel, the humidity generator comprising a safety overflow feature to prevent the gas with the conditioning agent from escaping through the safety overflow feature into the system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidifier to provide a second conditioning agent to a pneumatic air transport line for transporting the build material from the build material vessel to a second vessel or the build enclosure or a transport line operating under gravity. ### Claim 14 A method for manufacturing three dimensional objects, comprising: detecting, based on data from a humidity sensor in a system, a moisture content level corresponding to a build material residing in a build material vessel of the system; adjusting a humidity level of a gas and a conditioning agent from a conditioning agent source applied to the build material vessel, wherein the humidity level is based on the moisture content level and a temperature of the build material residing in the build material vessel, wherein a humidity generator connects to the build material vessel to provide the conditioning agent and the gas; adjusting, by a controller, a feeder connected to the build material vessel to dispense the build material into a conduit to carry the build material to a location for dispensing into a build enclosure; and initializing, by the controller, manufacturing of a three dimensional object in the build enclosure with the build material from the build material vessel in response to detecting the moisture content level of the build material residing in the build material vessel is within a predetermined range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to adjust a temperature of the gas and the conditioning agent applied to the build material vessel, based on the moisture content level and the temperature of the build material residing in the build material vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a further humidity sensor to sense a humidity level inside the conduit carrying the build material, wherein the instructions upon execution cause the controller to detect the humidity level inside the conduit based on a measurement of the further humidity sensor, and control adjustment of the humidity level inside the conduit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: adjusting, by the controller, a temperature of the gas and the conditioning agent applied to the build material vessel, based on the moisture content level and the temperature of the build material residing in the build material vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: detecting, by the controller based on a measurement of a humidity sensor, a humidity level inside the conduit carrying the build material; and adjusting the humidity level inside the conduit based on the detected humidity level inside the conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a three-dimensional printer.