# US 2017/0282283 A1 · Methods for Printing Three-Dimensional Objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282283 A1 - Document ID: US20170282283A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/619,401 - Filed: 2017-06-09 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-12 - Assignees: Digital Alloys Incorporated - Applicants: Digital Alloys Incorporated - Inventors: Paul Burke; Mateo Pena Doll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282283A1 ## CPC - B23K 11/0013: {welding for purposes other than joining, e.g. build-up welding} - B23K 11/0006: {the welding zone being shielded against the influence of the surrounding atmosphere} - B23K 11/257: {the measured parameter being an electrical current} - B23K 11/309: {Wire electrodes} - B29C 64/20: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a method for printing at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object adjacent to a support. The method may comprise receiving in computer memory a computational representation of the 3D object. Subsequent to receiving the computational representation of the 3D object, at least one feedstock may be directed through a feeder towards the support. Upon directing the at least one feedstock through the feeder, electrical current may be flowed through the at least one feedstock and into the support. The at least one feedstock may be subjected to Joule heating upon flow of electrical current through the at least one feedstock, which may be sufficient to melt at least a portion of the at least one feedstock. The at least the portion of the at least one feedstock may be deposited adjacent to the support in accordance with the computational representation of the 3D object. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for printing at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object adjacent to a support, comprising: (a) receiving in computer memory a computational representation of said 3D object; (b) subsequent to receiving said computational representation of said 3D object, directing at least one feedstock through a feeder towards said support; (c) upon directing said at least one feedstock through said feeder, flowing electrical current through said at least one feedstock and into the support; (d) subjecting said at least one feedstock to Joule heating upon flow of electrical current through said at least one feedstock and into the support, which Joule heating is sufficient to melt at least a portion of said at least one feedstock; and (e) depositing said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock adjacent to said support, thereby printing said at least said portion of said 3D object in accordance with said computational representation of said 3D object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating (d) and (e) one or more times to deposit additional portion(s) of said at least one feedstock adjacent to said support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said feeder comprises an opening that directs said at least one feedstock towards said support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical current is subjected to flow through said at least one feedstock and into said support using a power supply that is in electrical communication with said at least one feedstock. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said power supply is in electrical communication with said at least one feedstock through said feeder, and wherein said power supply is in electrical communication with said support. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to (e), directing an additional feedstock through said feeder, subjecting said additional feedstock to Joule heating and depositing at least a portion of said additional feedstock adjacent to said support or adjacent to said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein in (d), said Joule heating is sufficient to melt only a portion of said at least one feedstock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock is deposited adjacent to a previously deposited portion of said at least one feedstock or another feedstock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein in (e), said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock is deposited in a presence of a gas that (i) reduces or substantially prevents oxidation of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, and/or (ii) increases a cooling rate of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to (e), changing a relative position of said at least one feedstock with respect to said support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising depositing at least another portion of said at least one feedstock adjacent to said support or adjacent to said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock upon subjecting said at least one feedstock to Joule heating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one feedstock comprises one or more metals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one feedstock comprises a plurality of feedstocks, and wherein said plurality of feedstocks comprises a plurality of different metals. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a porosity of at least a portion of said 3D object by at least one of (i) altering a spacing between adjoining contact points between said at least one feedstock and said support or said at least said portion of said 3D object, (ii) altering a magnitude of said current applied between said at least one feedstock and said support, and (iii) altering an amount of said at least one feedstock that is directed towards the support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, in (a), storing a computational representation of said 3D object, extracting sets of data corresponding to successive voxels or layers from said computational representation, and performing (b)-(e) in accordance with said data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a size of said portion of said 3D object by controlling a speed of retraction of said at least one feedstock. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising removing an outer portion of said at least one feedstock before said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock is melted to form said at least said portion of said 3D object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising using feedback control to (i) measure a deposition parameter and/or characteristic of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, and (ii) printing said at least said portion of said 3D object in accordance with said deposition parameter and/or characteristic measured in (i). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said feedback control is used to measure one or more of (i) contact resistance, (ii) voltage, (iii) current, (iv) temperature of said support, (v) temperature of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, (vi) temperature of said at least said portion of said 3D object, (vii) amount of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, (viii) dimensions of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, (ix) movement of said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock, (x) damage during deposition, (xi) speed of deposition, (xii) heat during deposition, (xiii) spacing among individual portions of said at least said portion of said 3D object, (xiv) spacing between said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock and said support, (xv) spacing between said at least said portion of said at least one feedstock and said at least said portion of said 3D object, and (xvi) porosity of said at least said portion of said 3D object. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein during use, said at least said portion of said 3D object is formed in response to heat arising from, at least in part, contact resistance between a tip of said at least one feedstock and said 3D object or said support. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a sacrificial raft structure prior to printing said at least said portion of said 3D object, which sacrificial raft structure (i) anchors said at least said portion of said 3D object to said support and (ii) permits removal of said at least said portion of said 3D object from said support. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising, subsequent to printing said at least said portion of said 3D object, (i) removing said sacrificial raft structure from said support, and (ii) separating said sacrificial raft structure from said at least said portion of said 3D object. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said support is a base plate.