Printing engineered fluid filters

A method of producing a fluid filter using adaptive manufacturing with two print heads wherein the fluid filter includes a fluid filter body having an entrance face for fluid entrance, an exit face for fluid exit, at least one pore in the fluid filter body extending from the entrance face to the exit face, and at least one pocket in the pore wherein fluid containing particles flows through the at least one pore from said entrance face to said exit face and the particles in the fluid become trapped in the pocket;

• comprising the steps of:
• provide a three dimensional model of the fluid filter in a computer readable format,
• separate said three dimensional model of the fluid filter into void spaces and solid spaces,
• using one of the two print heads to print inorganic material in said solid spaces and using the other of the two print heads to print organic material in said void spaces,
• print the fluid filter one layer at a time wherein each layer can include said inorganic material in said solid spaces providing the fluid filter body and said organic material in said void spaces providing the at least one pore and the pocket, and
• sinter the fluid filter at a temperature wherein said inorganic material will coalesce and said organic material will decompose providing the at least one pore and the pocket in the fluid filter.

A method of producing a fluid filter using adaptive manufacturing wherein the fluid filter includes a fluid filter body having an entrance face for fluid entrance, an exit face for fluid exit, at least one pore in the fluid filter body extending from the entrance face to the exit face, and at least one pocket in the pore wherein fluid containing particles flows through the at least one pore from said entrance face to said exit face and the particles in the fluid become trapped in the pocket;

• comprising the steps of:
• provide a three dimensional model of the fluid filter in a computer readable format,
• separate said three dimensional model of the fluid filter into void spaces and solid spaces,
• using additive manufacturing to spread inorganic powder in said solid spaces and organic material is said void spaces,
• using a laser to produce the fluid filter one layer at a time wherein each layer can include said inorganic material in said solid spaces providing the fluid filter body and said organic material in said void spaces providing the at least one pore and the pocket, and
• sinter the fluid filter at a temperature wherein said inorganic material will coalesce and said organic material will decompose providing the at least one pore and the pocket in the fluid filter.