Apparatus for removing water-soluble support material from one or more rapid prototype parts

An apparatus for removing water-soluble support material from one or more rapid prototype parts, said apparatus comprising in combination:

• a retention tank having walls and a base collectively forming an interior chamber for containing and storing an aqueous cleaning solution, said base having an aperture extending therethrough and adaptably fitted with a valve for selectively controlling flow of the aqueous cleaning solution from said interior chamber into an external sump collector, said wall having intake and outlet apertures extending therethrough;
• intake and outlet piping passing through said intake and outlet apertures of wall, said intake and outlet piping each having one end attached to intake and outlet sides of a pump and a second end attached to a basket strainer and a manifold assembly having means for directionally emitting therefrom the aqueous cleaning solution into said interior chamber, respectively;
• means for heating the aqueous cleaning solution contained within said interior chamber to a predetermined temperature range;
• means for measuring temperature of the aqueous cleaning solution contained within said interior chamber;
• means for controlling said heating means based on inputs transmitted thereto and received from said temperature measuring means to maintain operability within the predetermined temperature range;
• means for separably dividing said interior chamber into first and second compartments for housing therewithin said manifold assembly, heating means and basket strainer and for receiving therewithin one or more rapid prototype parts, respectively, said separably dividing means having a plurality of apertures each being selectively positioned to align with said directionally emitting means;
• and
• a level indicator positioned internally in said first compartment at a predetermined distance above said directionally emitting means for transmitting level measurements of the aqueous cleaning solution present in said interior chamber to controlling means to selectively activate said heating means and said pump for a predetermined time interval as set by a timer.