Methods and systems for producing an object through solid freeform fabrication using immiscible fluids
OwnerShawn D. Hunter, Vladek P. Kasperchikinventors
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Abstract
A method of producing an object through solid freeform fabrication includes using two immiscible fluids to create a release envelope around the object.
Claims37
A method of producing an object through solid freeform fabrication, said method comprising applying two immiscible fluids to a build material.
A solid freeform fabrication material set comprising:
- a bulk powder substance;
- a binder fluid;
- and
- a migration control substance immiscible with said binder fluid.
A method of controlling or limiting binder migration in solid freeform fabrication comprising:
- applying a release fluid at object surfaces, wherein said release fluid is immiscible with an object build material, an object build material binder, or both.
A solid freeform fabrication system for producing a desired object from electronic data, said system comprising:
- a fabrication chamber for holding a bed of powdered build material;
- and
- a moving stage for distributing successive layers of powder in said fabrication chamber;
- and
- a fluid ejecting apparatus for selectively ejecting a volume of binder into each layer of powder and for ejecting a volume of release fluid into layers of powder at object boundaries;
- wherein said release fluid is immiscible with said binder.
A method of fabricating an object through solid freeform fabrication, said method comprising:
- depositing a layer of build material;
- depositing a first fluid on the layer of build material;
- and
- depositing a second fluid on the layer of build material;
- wherein said first fluid is immiscible with said second fluid.
A method of reducing surface roughness of an object fabricated by a solid freeform fabrication system that uses an inkjet process to build successive cross sections of said object being fabricated, said method comprising applying a migration inhibiting fluid at object boundaries.
A system for producing a desired object by solid freeform fabrication, said system comprising:
- means for building a series of successive cross sections of said object from a build material to form said object;
- and
- means for limiting addition of build material to said object at surfaces of said object.
A method of producing a desired surface finish on an object produced through solid freeform fabrication, said method comprising:
- using two immiscible fluids to create a release envelope around said object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.