System for manufacturing polymer parts via additive manufacturing
AssigneeHoneywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
InventorsSteven Todd LaPlant, Benjamin Douglas Williams, Jacob Ryan McLaughlin, Jackson Dale White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for forming a slurry and manufacturing a part with the slurry are disclosed. The slurry may comprise a solvent, a polymer soluble in the solvent, and additives insoluble in the solvent. The polymer may be dissolved in the solvent such that the slurry has a lower viscosity than a viscosity of the polymer, which may enable the slurry to flow and be utilized by a manufacturing device. Once manufactured, the solvent may be removed from the slurry material, and the manufactured part may have the original viscosity of the polymer.
Claims13
A system for manufacturing polymer parts via additive manufacturing, the system comprising:
- a slurry comprising a solvent, one or more additives that are insoluble in the solvent, and an elastomer that is soluble in the solvent, the elastomer having a first viscosity,
- wherein the solvent dissolves the elastomer to form the slurry having a second viscosity lower than the first viscosity,
- wherein a ratio of the solvent to the elastomer in the slurry is in a range of 3:2 to 4:1;
- a manufacturing device that manufactures a part with the slurry, the manufacturing device comprising:
- a build surface configured to receive the slurry;
- and
- a print head comprising a nozzle and configured to extrude the slurry through the nozzle onto the build surface to manufacture the part;
- and
- a curing device operable at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, the curing device comprising:
- a heated chamber encompassing at least a portion of the manufacturing device, the heated chamber configured to heat the part to remove the solvent such that at least a portion of the part has the first viscosity;
- and
- a heating device disposed proximate to the nozzle and configured to provide heat to the part while manufacturing the part.
A system for manufacturing polymer parts, comprising:
- a slurry comprising a solvent, an elastomer having a first viscosity, and one or more additives,
- wherein the solvent dissolves the elastomer to form the slurry having a second viscosity lower than the first viscosity;
- an additive manufacturing device comprising:
- a build surface for receiving the slurry;
- and
- a print head comprising a nozzle for selectively extruding the slurry onto the build surface to form a part;
- a heated chamber encompassing at least a portion of the additive manufacturing device and operable at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, the heated chamber configured to heat the part to a temperature above room temperature to remove the solvent such that at least a portion of the part has the first viscosity;
- and
- a heating device disposed proximate to the nozzle and configured to provide heat to the part while extruding the slurry,
- wherein the part comprises the elastomer and the one or more additives.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.