Polyglycolic acid support material for additive manufacturing systems
AssigneeStratasys, Inc.
InventorsVittorio L. Jaker, James E. Orrock, Christopher Scott Graley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A support material for use in an additive manufacturing system, which compositionally includes a polyglycolic acid polymer, which is at least partially soluble in an aqueous solution, and which is configured for use in the additive manufacturing system for printing a support structure in coordination with printing of a three-dimensional part.
Claims20
A method for printing a three-dimensional part with an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising:
- providing a support material comprising a polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymer, wherein at least a portion of the PGA polymer has monomer units with a structure:
- providing a part material;
- printing layers of a support structure from the provided support material;
- printing layers of the three-dimensional part from the provided part material in coordination with the printing of the layers of the support structure, wherein at least a portion the printed layers of the support structure support the printed layers of the three-dimensional part;
- and
- dissolving at least a portion of the support structure from the three-dimensional part with an aqueous solution.
A support material for use in an additive manufacturing system, the support material comprising:
- a composition comprising a polyglycolic acid polymer having at least one extension bonded to the PGA polymer, wherein the extension comprises:
- a linkage group bonded the PGA polymer;
- and
- a terminal group bonded to the linkage group, wherein the terminal group comprises a polymer chain;
- wherein the support material is configured for use in the additive manufacturing system for printing a support structure from the support material in coordination with printing of a three-dimensional part;
- and
- wherein the composition is at least partially soluble in an aqueous solution.
A consumable assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable assembly comprising:
- a support material comprising:
- a composition comprising a polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymer, wherein at least a portion of the PGA polymer has monomer units with a structure:
- wherein the composition is at least partially soluble in an aqueous solution;
- and
- wherein the support material is configured for use in the additive manufacturing system for printing a support structure from the support material in coordination with printing of a three-dimensional part;
- and
- a container configured to retain at least a portion of the support material and to deliver the support material to the additive manufacturing system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.