Metal printing and additive manufacturing apparatus
OwnerMichael A Perroneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A molten metal print deposition device includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a deposition head for controlled deposition of a molten metal print medium defined by molten feedstock, and a capillary structure adapted to maintain the molten feedstock from the melt reservoir in a fluidic state for directing and depositing the feedstock onto a substrate. A print medium is defined by an alloy heated to a fluid state in a temperature range defined by but above a liquidus and solidus. A thermal source and control circuit maintain the molten feedstock at a temperature above the liquidus of the print medium during deposition.
Claims14
A molten metal print deposition device, comprising
- a reservoir in fluid communication with a deposition head for controlled deposition of a print medium defined by molten feedstock;
- a capillary structure adapted to maintain the molten feedstock from the melt reservoir in a fluidic state for directing and depositing the feedstock onto a substrate;
- and
- a thermal source for maintaining the molten feedstock at a temperature above the liquidus of the print medium during deposition, the capillary structure further including a plurality of elongated strands, the strands formed from a material having a melting point based on a composition of the feedstock.
A molten metal print deposition device, comprising:
- a reservoir in fluid communication with a deposition head for controlled deposition of a print medium defined by molten feedstock;
- a capillary structure adapted to maintain the molten feedstock from the melt reservoir in a fluidic state for directing and depositing the feedstock onto a substrate;
- a thermal source for maintaining the molten feedstock at a temperature above the liquidus of the print medium during deposition
- a feedstock transport configured for transporting feedstock into the reservoir;
- and
- a seal at an entry of the feedstock into the reservoir, the seal forming a pressure vessel defined by the reservoir, the seal and the capillary structure, a pressure in the pressure vessel moderating a flow rate of the molten feedstock via the capillary structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.