Controlling meniscus position for magnetohydrodynamic metal manufacturing
AssigneeDesktop Metal, Inc.
InventorsEmanuel Michael Sachs, Paul A. Hoisington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are directed to applying magnetohydrodynamic forces to liquid metal to eject liquid metal along a controlled pattern, such as a controlled three-dimensional pattern as part of additive manufacturing of an object. Electric current delivered to a meniscus of the liquid metal in a quiescent state can be directed to exert a pullback force on the liquid metal. The pullback force can be sufficient to draw the liquid metal, in the quiescent state, in a direction toward the nozzle to reduce the likelihood of unintended wetting of surfaces of the nozzle between uses of the nozzle.
Claims13
A method comprising:
- providing a liquid metal in a fluid chamber defined by a housing, the fluid chamber having an inlet region and a discharge region, wherein the liquid metal consists of one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy;
- directing a magnetic field through the housing and the liquid metal in the fluid chamber;
- moving the housing relative to a build plate and depositing a plurality of successive layers of droplets to form a three-dimensional object, wherein each droplet is ejected from the housing by the steps of:
- delivering a first electric current into the liquid metal in the housing in a quiescent state, the first electric current intersecting the magnetic field in the liquid metal to exert a pullback force on the liquid metal, the pullback force sufficient to draw the liquid metal, in the quiescent state, in a direction from the discharge region toward the inlet region;
- and
- following the step of delivering the first electric current, delivering a second electric current into the liquid metal, the second electric current intersecting the magnetic field in the liquid metal to exert a firing force on the liquid metal sufficient to eject liquid metal from the discharge region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.