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US 11,858,180 B2Granted
Method for consolidating an additively manufactured piece
Assignee9T Labs AG
InventorsChester Houwink, Giovanni Cavolina
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.
Claims20
A method for consolidating an additively manufactured piece, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a first additively manufactured piece in a cavity of a thermally conductive container,
- filling the cavity with one of a liquid and a semi-liquid material, so that the material directly contacts and completely surrounds the first piece, the material having a maximum operating temperature higher than a matrix melt temperature of the first piece, and the material having a positive relative thermal coefficient of expansion,
- sealing the cavity,
- curing the material, so that the cured material restricts movement of the first piece in the cavity,
- heating the container, wherein, while the temperature within the container is increased by the heating, the cured material expands and then creates a pressure on the first piece, and wherein the temperature is increased by the heating until the temperature reaches a process temperature equal or higher than the matrix melt temperature of the first piece and lower than the maximum operating temperature of the material, and
- maintaining the process temperature within the container so as to consolidate the first piece;
- wherein during the steps of heating and maintaining, the cured material is an in-situ created monobloc mould for the first piece.
4 more elements
A system for consolidating an additively manufactured piece, the system comprising:
- a thermally conductive container comprising a cavity, the cavity including an additively manufactured piece and a liquid or semi-liquid material, so that the material completely surrounds or envelops at least a portion of the piece, the material having a maximum operating temperature higher than a matrix melt temperature of the piece and having a positive relative thermal coefficient of expansion,
- curing means for curing the material, so that the cured material restricts the movement of the piece in said cavity, and
- temperature controlling means configured for heating the cavity, wherein while the temperature is increased by the heating, the cured material expands and then creates a pressure on the piece, and wherein the temperature is increased by the heating until reaching a process temperature equal or higher than the matrix melt temperature of the piece and lower than the maximum operating of the material, the temperature controlling means being configured also for maintaining the process temperature so as to consolidate the piece;
- wherein during the heating and during the maintaining, the cured material is an in-situ created monobloc mould for the piece.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.