# US 12,179,422 B2 · Additive manufacturing devices including a multi-component print surface and related methods

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- Number: US 12,179,422 B2
- Document ID: US12179422B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/672,145
- Filed: 2022-02-15
- Published: 2022-08-18
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-17
- Assignees: Formlabs, Inc.
- Applicants: Formlabs, Inc.
- Inventors: Zachary Zguris; Maxim Lobovsky; Dmitri Megretski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179422B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
- B29C 64/124: using layers of liquid which are selectively solidified
- B29C 64/255: Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing
- B29K 2105/251: {Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046)}
- B29K 2995/0026: Transparent
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

## Abstract

A multi-component print surface and associated additive manufacturing methods are generally described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An additive manufacturing device, comprising:
a print surface configured to contact a three-dimensional object formed by additive manufacturing, the print surface comprising:
a first component comprising a solid matrix comprising a plurality of voids, wherein the solid matrix has a void fraction greater than or equal to 30%; and
a second component comprising a fluorinated liquid,
wherein the second component comprising the fluorinated liquid is at least partially disposed within one or more voids of the plurality of voids of the solid matrix, and wherein the second component at least partially forms a film over the first component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are miscible.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are immiscible.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the solid matrix comprises a polymer and/or a glass.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the solid matrix comprises a gel, an aerogel, fibers, a foam, an elastomer, a silicate, and/or a sintered powder.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the solid matrix comprises polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polymethylpentene (PMP), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), a fluorosilicone, a fluorocarbon elastomer, and/or silicon dioxide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the fluorinated liquid comprises hexafluoropropylene oxide and/or a (per)fluorinated alkyl amine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the additive manufacturing device further comprises a reservoir of the fluorinated liquid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 8, wherein the print surface is disposed proximate to the reservoir.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 8, wherein the print surface is disposed over the reservoir.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, comprising the first component in an amount between greater than or equal to 1% by weight and less than or equal to 90% by weight versus the total weight of the print surface and the second component in an amount between greater than or equal to 10% by weight and less than or equal to 99% by weight versus the total weight of the print surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the second component is at least partially absorbed by the first component.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the print surface is disposed over a support layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 13, wherein a reservoir of fluorinated liquid is disposed over the support layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The additive manufacturing device of claim 13, wherein the support layer is transparent.