Back to results
US 12,679,024 B2Granted
Devices, systems and methods for printing three- dimensional objects
Assignee3DEO, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Petros, Payman Torabi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for printing three-dimensional objects. A method for printing a three-dimensional object may comprise alternately and sequentially applying a stream comprising a binding substance to an area of a layer of powder material in a powder bed, and generating at least one perimeter of the three-dimensional object in the area. The stream may be applied in accordance with a model design of the three-dimensional object. The at least one perimeter may generated in accordance with the model design.
Claims20
A system for simultaneously printing a plurality of three-dimensional objects, comprising:
- an enclosure comprising a plurality of three-dimensional printing systems, wherein a printing system of said plurality of three-dimensional printing systems comprises:
- a container configured to hold a powder bed comprising powder material;
- a binder application unit comprising a spray head, wherein the binder application unit is configured to apply, layer by layer, a binding substance to the powder material in said powder bed;
- and
- at least one perimeter generator comprising a cutting tool, wherein the at least one perimeter generator is configured to generate one or more perimeters in the powder bed by removing, layer by layer, one or more portions of the powder material bound by the binding substance, wherein the container, the binder application unit, and the at least one perimeter generator are positioned to perform a method for simultaneously generating the plurality of three-dimensional objects located within an environment of the enclosure, the method including alternately:
- applying, by the binder application unit, the binding substance to an area of a layer of the powder material in the powder bed to form an intermediate three-dimensional object held within the enclosure;
- and
- generating, by the at least one perimeter generator, at least one perimeter of one of the plurality of three-dimensional objects, which is supported by the container, by removing one or more portions of the area of the layer of the powder material in the intermediate three-dimensional object bound by the binding substance;
- an environmental control unit operably coupled to the enclosure, wherein said environmental control unit comprises an air conditioner configured to regulate temperature of the environment in the enclosure;
- and
- one or more computer processors operatively coupled to the binder application unit and the at least one perimeter generator of each of the three-dimensional printing systems, the one or more computer processors being individually or collectively programmed to control each of the three-dimensional printing systems to perform the method.
8 more elements
A system for printing a plurality of three-dimensional objects, comprising:
- a manufacturing apparatus including
- a powder dispenser configured to supply powder material to a powder bed,
- a binder application unit comprising a spray head and configured to apply a binding substance, and
- a plurality of cutting devices configured to generate one or more perimeters in the powder bed by removing, layer by layer, one or more portions of the powder material bound by the binding substance, wherein the powder dispenser, the binder application unit, and the plurality of cutting devices are positioned to perform a method for generating the plurality of three-dimensional objects located within an environment of an enclosure;
- and
- one or more computer processors operatively coupled to the manufacturing apparatus and configured to control the manufacturing apparatus to perform the method, wherein the one or more computer processors are individually or collectively programmed to:
- (i) direct the binder application unit to apply the binding substance to a first area of a first layer of the powder material of the powder bed,
- (ii) direct a first set of cutting devices of the plurality of cutting devices to generate a plurality of perimeters in the first layer in the powder bed by removing, in accordance with a model design of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects held within the enclosure, one or more portions of the first layer of the powder material bound by the binding substance,
- (iii) direct the powder dispenser to supply the powder material to deposit a second layer of the powder material,
- (iv) direct the binder application unit to apply the binding substance to a second area of the second layer of the powder material of the powder bed, and
- (v) direct a second set of cutting devices of the plurality of cutting devices to generate a plurality of perimeters in the second layer by removing, in accordance with the model design of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects held within the enclosure, one or more portions of the second layer of the powder material bound by the binding substance, thereby simultaneously generating at least a portion of each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects within the enclosure.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.