Cooling techniques in solid freeform fabrication
Assignee3D Systems, Inc.
InventorJon Jody Fong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling system for removing heat from the layers of a three-dimensional object built in a layerwise manner from a build material in a solid freeform fabrication apparatus. The cooling system provides an air duct that delivers a uniform sheet of air flow over the layers of the three-dimensional object while it is built. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Claims31
A method of forming a three-dimensional object in a layerwise manner from a build material, the method comprising:
- providing object layer data;
- forming layers of the three-dimensional object according to the object layer data;
- providing at least one substantially uniform sheet of air flow across the layers of the three-dimensional object to remove heat from the layers of the three-dimensional object.
An apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object in a layerwise fashion from a build material, the apparatus comprising:
- a computer controller for processing data to establish object layer data;
- a means for supporting the three-dimensional object;
- and
- a means for forming layers of the three-dimensional object from the build material according to the object layer data;
- a means for cooling the layers of the three-dimensional object by establishing at least one uniform sheet of air flow across the layers of the three-dimensional object.
A cooling system for removing heat from the layers of a three-dimensional object formed in a layerwise manner from a build material, the system comprising:
- at least one fan for generating a flow of air;
- at least one air duct having an inlet end and an exit end, the air duct in communication with the fan for receiving the flow of air at the inlet end, the air duct shaping the flow of air into a uniform sheet of air flow and delivering the uniform sheet of air flow from the exit end across the layers of the three-dimensional object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.