Method of fabricating structures, and structures, with integrated property enhancing fill material

Abstract

Structures with integrally formed property enhancing fill material, and a method for fabricating such structures, are presented. In one or more embodiments, the method of the present invention includes forming the structural members of a structure out of a powdered material using selective laser sintering (“SLS”) such that the structural members of the structure enclose one or more internal cavities. In one or more embodiments, the structure is provided with an internal passage that forms a direct connection between first and second external apertures. One or more internal apertures and or passages form a passage from one or more of the internal cavities to the internal passage connecting the external apertures. The internal passages and internal and external apertures are configured such that most of the compressed air applied to one of the external apertures flows directly to and out of the other external aperture without traversing the internal cavities, such that the bulk of unsintered powder remains in the cavities. In one or more embodiments, the powdered material is left inside selective portions of the structure's interior volume, while being removed from others.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.