Method for fabricating a three-dimensional metal part using a conformable fugitive material

A method for fabricating a three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part, the method comprising:

• (a) forming the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part by an additive manufacturing technique;
• (b) encapsulating the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in a conformable fugitive material to form an encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part, wherein encapsulating the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in a conformable fugitive material comprises placing the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in a mold and pouring the conformable fugitive material in a molten state into the mold to encapsulate the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in the conformable fugitive material;
• and
• (c) cold isostatic pressing the encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part with pressurized incompressible fluid that contacts the conformable fugitive material.

A method for fabricating a three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part, the method comprising:

• (a) forming the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part by an additive manufacturing technique;
• (b) encapsulating the three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in a conformable fugitive material to form an encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part;
• (c) cold isostatic pressing the encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part with pressurized incompressible fluid that contacts the conformable fugitive material;
• and
• (d) removing the conformable fugitive material from the encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part after compressing the encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part, wherein the conformable fugitive material removed from the encapsulated three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part is collected and used for encapsulating a newly formed three-dimensional metal, ceramic, and/or cermet part in the conformable fugitive material.