System, method, and apparatus for cleaning a ceramic component
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorMax Eric Schlienger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for cleaning a ceramic component includes generating a computer solid model of a component, converting the computer solid model to a stereo-lithographic instruction file, and preparing the component in a stereo-lithography machine in response to the stereo-lithographic instruction file. The method further includes providing an amount of solvent, where a residue left from preparing the component is at least partially soluble in the solvent. The method includes immersing at least part of the component in the solvent, heating the solvent in a liquid state, and reducing a pressure of the solvent sufficiently to boil the solvent. The method further includes heat-curing the component.
Claims29
A method for cleaning a residue from a green ceramic component, comprising:
- providing an amount of solvent, wherein the residue is at least partially soluble in the solvent;
- immersing at least a portion of the green ceramic component having the residue in the solvent;
- heating the solvent in a liquid state;
- and
- reducing a pressure of the solvent sufficiently to boil the solvent.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a green ceramic component having a residual resin on at least one surface;
- a vessel containing an amount of a solvent wherein the residual resin is at least partially soluble in the solvent;
- a heater structured to heat the solvent in the vessel;
- a pressure modulator structured to control a pressure in the vessel;
- and
- a controller structured to control the heater to heat the solvent in a liquid state and to control the pressure modulator to reduce the pressure in the vessel sufficiently to boil the solvent.
A method, comprising:
- generating a computer solid model of a component;
- converting a computer solid model to a stereo-lithographic instruction file;
- preparing the component in a stereo-lithography machine in response to the stereo-lithographic instruction file;
- providing an amount of solvent, wherein a residue from the preparing is at least partially soluble in the solvent;
- immersing at least a portion of the component in the solvent;
- heating the solvent in a liquid state;
- reducing a pressure of the solvent sufficiently to boil the solvent;
- and
- heat-curing the component.
A system, comprising:
- a stereolithography device structured to manufacture a green ceramic component having internal passages;
- a cleaning vessel structured to contain a solvent, the cleaning vessel fluidly coupled to a pressure control device;
- and
- a controller structured to command the pressure control device to change the pressure in the cleaning vessel such that solvent in the cleaning vessel crosses from a liquid side to a vapor side of a liquid-vapor phase line during a cleaning operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.