US 11,446,866 B2 · Three dimensional printing on a fixture and rinsing channels through fixture conduits

Abstract

A three dimensional printing system includes a print engine, a fluid processing station, a fixture, a transport mechanism, and a controller. The fluid processing station includes a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source. The fixture has a lower portion with a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face. The controller is configured to: (a) Operate the print engine to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face and thereby defining an internal cavity and an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (c) Transfer the fixture to the fluid processing station. (d) Couple the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture. (e) Operate the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port and into the internal cavity.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing a three dimensional article using a three dimensional printing system including a print engine and a fluid processing station that is physically separate from the print engine comprising:

(a) loading a fixture into the print engine, the fixture defining a fluid conduit;
(b) operating the print engine to form the three dimensional article onto a surface of the fixture, the three dimensional article defining:
an internal cavity;
an inlet port coupling the fluid conduit of the fixture to the internal cavity;
and
a fluid outlet coupling the internal cavity to an external portion of the internal cavity;
(c) unloading the fixture from the print engine;
(d) transporting the fixture from the print engine to the fluid processing station, the fluid processing station including a fluid injector port coupled to a fluid source;
(e) loading the fixture into the fluid processing station and fluidically coupling the fluid injector port to the fluid conduit of the fixture;
(f) operating the fluid source to inject fluid out the fluid injector port, through the inlet port, and into the internal cavity.

7 more elements

A method of manufacturing a three dimensional article using a three dimensional printing system having a vessel containing photocurable resin, a light engine, a movement mechanism, a fluid processing station with an injector port coupled to a fluid source, a fixture having a lower face and a first fluid conduit coupled to the lower face, and a transport mechanism comprising:

(a) positioning the lower face of the fixture within the photocurable resin;
(b) operating the light engine and the movement mechanism to form a three dimensional article of manufacture onto the lower face of the fixture, the three dimensional article of manufacture having an inside surface that defines an internal cavity, an inlet port that couples the internal cavity to the first fluid conduit of the fixture and an exit port that couples the internal cavity to an external portion of the three dimensional article of manufacture;
(c) operating the transport mechanism to transfer the fixture with the attached three dimensional article of manufacture to the fluid processing station;
(d) coupling the fluid injector port of the fluid processing station to the first fluid conduit of the fixture;
(e) operating the fluid source to inject fluid out of the fluid injector port, through the first fluid conduit and the inlet port, and to the internal cavity.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Three dimensional printing on a fixture and rinsing channels through fixture conduits

Life of this patent

Three dimensional printing on a fixture and rinsing channels through fixture conduits

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16