Component and Watermark Formed by Additive Manufacturing
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsEric D. Misfeldt, Mark T. Allott, Stephen J. Pierz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a three-dimensional article includes sequentially forming a plurality of first two-dimensional layers and a second two-dimensional layer. The second two-dimensional layer includes a second outer edge and a second inner area within the boundary defined by the second outer edge. The second inner area includes uniform physical characteristic and a watermark area within the second inner area having a physical characteristic different from that of the second inner area. An article includes a body with an inner area having a physical characteristic. A watermark is within the inner area and has a physical characteristic different from the physical characteristic of the inner area.
Claims20
A method of forming a three-dimensional article comprising:
- sequentially forming a plurality of first two-dimensional layers, each first two-dimensional layer including a first outer edge defining a first boundary of the first two-dimensional layer and a first inner area within the first boundary defined by the first outer edge;
- forming a second two-dimensional layer adjacent one of the plurality of first two-dimensional layers, the second two-dimensional layer including a second outer edge defining a second boundary of the second two-dimensional layer and a second inner area within the second boundary defined by the second outer edge, the second outer edge being aligned with the first outer edge of the adjacent one of the plurality of first two-dimensional layers, the second inner area having a physical characteristic and a watermark area within the second inner area having a physical characteristic different from the physical characteristic of the second inner area.
A method of forming a three-dimensional article comprising:
- forming a plurality of planar first two-dimensional layers, each of the plurality of planar first two-dimensional layers having a first outer edge defining a first boundary of the planar first two-dimensional layer and a first inner area within the first boundary defined by the first outer edge;
- forming at least one planar second two-dimensional layer between two of the plurality of first two-dimensional layers, each at least one planar second two-dimensional layer having a second outer edge defining a second boundary of the planar second two-dimensional layer and a second inner area within the second boundary defined by the second outer edge, the second inner area having a generally uniform physical characteristic;
- and
- while forming the at least one planar second two-dimensional layer, forming a watermark area within the second inner area, the watermark area having a physical characteristic different from the generally uniform physical characteristic of the first inner area to define at least a portion of a watermark.
An article comprising:
- a body having an outer surface and an inner area, the inner area having a physical characteristic;
- and
- a watermark within and surrounded by the inner area, the watermark having a physical characteristic different from the physical characteristic of the inner area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.