Resistive heating-compression method and apparatus for composite-based additive manufacturing
AssigneeImpossible Objects, Inc.
InventorsRobert Swartz, John Bayldon, Buckley Crist, Eugene Gore
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing is disclosed. The method includes providing a prepared stack of substrate sheets, placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device, applying a current to thereby heat the stack to a final temperature to liquefy applied powder, compressing the stack to a final height, cooling the stack, and removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device. The apparatus comprises at least two plates, a power supply for providing current, a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly.
Claims31
A method for resistive heating usable in composite-based additive manufacturing, comprising:
- providing a stack of substrate sheets that have been applied with powder;
- placing the stack between electrode assemblies of a compression device;
- compressing the stack at room temperature to a first height H1;
- applying a current between the electrode assemblies to heat the stack to a first target temperature T1;
- compressing the stack to an intermediate height that is less than H1 but greater than a final desired compression height H;
- applying a current between the electrode assemblies to thereby heat the stack to a temperature T at which the powder changes state to a converted material;
- compressing the stack to the final desired compression height H;
- cooling the stack;
- and
- removing the cooled, compressed stack from the compression device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.