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US 11,667,072 B2Granted
Liquid metal printing
AssigneesMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
InventorsSkylar J. E. Tibbits, Jared Smith Laucks, Schendy G. Kernizan, Bjorn Eric Sparrman, Nobuhiro Miya, Masaki Otomori
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Liquid metals or plastic are deposited into a reservoir of powder that supports the liquid metal or plastic as it cools.
Claims14
A method of forming a metal object, the method comprising:
- a) depositing a liquid metal into a reservoir of powder by using an apparatus for extruding liquid metal, the apparatus comprising:
- i) a crucible having an upper chamber with a well for holding liquid metal;
- ii) a first heating element that at least partially surrounds the crucible;
- iii) an interior chamber below the crucible that connects the crucible to a nozzle;
- iv) an exterior chamber, having positioned therein a second heating element that at least partially surrounds the interior chamber;
- and
- v) a rod disposed between the nozzle and a solenoid resting above the crucible;
- and
- b) allowing the metal to solidify.
6 more elements
An apparatus for extruding liquid metal, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a crucible having an upper chamber with a well for holding liquid metal;
- b) a first heating element that at least partially surrounds the crucible;
- c) an interior chamber below the crucible that connects the crucible to a nozzle;
- d) an exterior chamber, having positioned therein a second heating element that at least partially surrounds the interior chamber;
- and
- e) a rod disposed between the nozzle and a solenoid resting above the crucible.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.