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US 11,858,041 B2Granted
Electrical measurement of a green object during sintering
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsGreg Long, Andrew L. Van Brocklin, David Champion
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an example implementation, a sintering system includes a support structure in a sintering furnace to support a token green object during a sintering process. The system includes wires installed into the furnace and through the support structure to contact the object. An impedance meter is operatively coupled to the wires to determine electrical impedance of the object during the sintering process.
Claims15
A sintering system comprising:
- a support structure in a sintering furnace to support a token green object during a sintering process;
- wires installed into the furnace and through the support structure to contact the object;
- and,
- an impedance meter operatively coupled to the wires to determine electrical impedance of the object during the sintering process.
1 more element
A method of sintering comprising:
- during a sintering process, heating a sintering furnace to a sintering temperature;
- measuring electrical impedance across a token green object in the furnace during the sintering process;
- determining a sintering endpoint when the impedance reaches a target impedance;
- and,
- initiating a furnace cool down phase based on determining the sintering endpoint.
2 more elements
A sintering furnace comprising:
- a shelf insertable into the furnace to support green objects during a sintering process, the objects to include a token green object;
- wires operatively coupled to an impedance meter to deliver electric current through the token green object and measure impedance across the token green object;
- a support structure on the shelf to support the token green object and the wires so that electrodes at ends of the wires maintain contact with the token green object throughout the sintering process;
- and,
- a controller to compare the measured impedance with a target impedance and to initiate a furnace cool down phase when the measured impedance reaches the target impedance.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.